By Olalekan Okusan, ITTF Africa, Press Officer

After an intensive six-day training coupled with competing at the just concluded Egypt Junior Open, the African team for the World Cadet Challenge in Fiji are in positive shape for the table tennis fiesta.

According to the President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, the team had a smooth preparation for the tournament.

The ATTF boss who had a session with the team in their training camp in Cairo, Egypt charged the eight-man team to do the continent proud in Fiji.

He said: “Team Africa had a quite combined planning for preparation in the last two weeks. There was an intensive practice camp in Cairo on October 5 to 10 with the Egyptian national U-21 team. The team also took part in the Egypt Junior and Cadet Open held in Sharm El-Sheikh on 10-15 October. Before their departure, they had a light practice schedule in Cairo on October 16 to 17,” he said.

The satisfied Khaled El-Salhy added: “I am so satisfied with the practice camp done in Cairo and so proud of the super presentation of Team Africa in Egypt Open last week, all players were so effective and they did their best to claim nine medals (three gold, three silver and three bronze) in all events of team, doubles and singles.”

The African team is made of four boys and four girls and they are Fadwa Garci (Tunisia), Hana Ibrahim (Egypt), Taguercifi Houda Norhane (Algeria) and Kiara Naidoo (South Africa) made up the girls’ team while the boys’ team include Mohamed Azzam (Egypt), Youssef Ben Attia (Tunisia), Regis Kiassi (Congo Brazzaville) and Adelbasset Chiachi (Algeria).

The team will be managed by Pacinthe Osman Soliman (Egypt) while the coaches are Ghazy Ben Kahia (TUN) and Ahmed Belkaci (Algeria).