by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF-Africa Press Officer

According to the Secretary General of the Ivory Coast Table Tennis Federation, Thiery Kouadjo, the prestigious multi-purpose hall of the Palace of Sports of Treichville, which hosted the 2017 Francophone Games 2017, will be the venue.

“The purpose of this tournament is for Ivorian table tennis players to participate in international competition in the Ivory Coast; for the first edition, our goal is to accommodate at least 10 countries. We have received registration of players from France, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Benin and Congo Brazzaville with prize money of US$ 3,000.” Thiery Kouadjo

Undoubtedly for the likes of the country’s leading players Kanate Ali and Angie-Aime Kousaai the tournament is a major boost.

“The objective is to ensure that the second edition scheduled for 2019 will appear in the calendar of the International Table Tennis Federation. Ivory Coast plans to organize this tournament which will extend to major table tennis nations. There is no particular criterion for inviting certain players; the tournament is open to all players. All those interested can contact the Ivorian Federation of Table Tennis. They will receive an invitation for them to travel to Abidjan.” Thiery Kouadjo

Thiery Kouadjo advises that this year Frenchman, Abdel-Kader Salifou, will be the number one seed in the Men’s Singles event.