Tennis players train for African championship

The national table tennis selection is currently in camp to prepare for the upcoming African championship to take place in Cairo- Egypt from January 23rd to 29th. The selection comprising four boys and four girls are now training simultaneously in Douala and Yaounde and will regroup in Yaounde two weeks to the beginning of the competition.

However, two athletes based outside the country, Sarah Hanffou and Matam Herman will join the rest of the delegation directly in Egypt. The male selection comprises Matam Herman, the reigning Cameroon champion, Ngwe Emmanuel, Nyoh Derrick and Nguepi Dimitri while the female selection is made of Sarah Hanffou, Tayim Mercy, Ntumyuy Harriett and the winner of the DIXIADEs games, Enjema Beatrice from the South West Region.

Sarah Hanffou and Matam Herman based outside the country qualified automatically as well as the two reigning champions; Ngwe Emmanuel and Tayim Mercy. The other four; Nyoh Derrick, Nguepi Dimitri, Ntumyuy Harriett and Enjema Beatrice gain their qualification for the continental competition through trials which were conducted at the Brasseries club in Yaoundé on December 27th and 28th.

According to the president of the Cameroon Table Tennis Federation, Alfred Bagueka, the system of trails was adopted to make sure only the best qualify for the competition. Of the eight athletes to take part in the African senior championship, only Sarah Hanffou stands a real chance of winning a medal.

However, the federation president says, the important thing is to gain experience and points that will enable the athletes improve on their ranking.