By Ochiaka Ugwu
Nigeria and People’s Republic of China have once again elevated their blossoming friendship to a new height with the 2026 8th China-Nigeria Table Tennis Friendship Match held in Abuja Sunday.
The event hosted by China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council served as a new starting point for cooperation across all fields and points to building a China-Nigeria community with a shared future.
Speaking at the ceremony, Cultural Counsellor of Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and Director of China Cultural Centre, Yang Jianxing said that Table tennis apart from being a popular sport among the peoples of China and Nigeria, served as a bridge of friendship, bringing the two peoples closer together.
Yang noted that small table can bring people together, with a simple paddle conveying genuine friendship.
Continuing, he said that every serve, return and handshake on the court reflects the spirit of mutual respect, teamwork and fair play.
“Sports exchanges transcend differences in language and culture, enabling people from different countries and backgrounds to better understand one another and build mutual trust. I am confident that, through this tournament, which has now been successfully held for eight editions, more Chinese and Nigerian friends will get to know one another, improve their skills and strengthen their friendship through sporting exchanges” he stated.
Yang emphasized that China’s zero-tariff treatment for imports from 53 African countries that it has relations with shows its desire to extend development opportunities with the continent.
He said that Chinese Embassy and China Cultural Centre in Nigeria have maintained close and productive cooperation with the Nigeria Union of Journalists over the years, noting that the Union and the wider Nigerian media community have consistently followed developments in China-Nigeria relations and provided objective coverage of the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in such fields as trade and investment, culture, education and science and technology.
Yang highlighted that their efforts have played an important role in enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples, promoting exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Nigerian civilizations, and strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two countries.
Yang also pointed out that Nigeria-China Chamber of Commerce and Chinese enterprises operating in Nigeria have made important contributions to economic and trade cooperation between our two countries.
He said they have promoted investment, trade, industrial development, and actively supported cultural, sporting and public welfare activities, and also helped foster closer friendship and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.
Speaking during the tournament, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council appreciated China for initiating and sustaining the tournament.
However, Ignatius Nkwoh of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) came tops in the men’s singles followed by China’s Xu Haitao, who came second.
Eke Nwokeocha from Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), clinched the third position in the men’s singles category.
China’s Xu Haitao and Shi Changqiang emerged champions in the men’s doubles, with Eke Nwokeocha and Ignatius Nkwoh both of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) securing the second position. China’s He Chaodong and Li Shuidi secured the position third.
In the women’s singles category, Nie Xiaohua took the first position, with Zhang Yaping clinching the second place and Wu Tianxia coming third.
Shi Changqiang and Zhang Yaping emerged winners in mixed doubles contest with Xu Haitao and Wu Tianxia finishing second. NUJ’s Odion Musa and Chioma Amajor Love took the third position.
The tournament which was the eighth version of the yearly contest that assembled both Nigerians and Chinese had them participate in men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles and mixed doubles categories.
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