By Rihana Adam
Accra, July 18, GNA – Former national table tennis champion, Felix Lartey, has donated table tennis bats and rubbers to Ghana’s junior team to support their preparations for the 2026 African Youth Championships.
The presentation was made on Thursday during the team’s training session at the University of Ghana, where junior players, coaches and officials gathered to receive the equipment ahead of the continental competition.
Lartey, who is currently based in the United States of America, said the donation formed part of his commitment to giving back to the sport that shaped his career and supporting the next generation of Ghanaian players.
He noted that access to quality equipment was one of the biggest challenges he faced as a junior player and expressed the hope that the donation would help improve the team’s training and boost their confidence.
He said, “I know how difficult it can be to train without the right equipment because I experienced it myself, I hope these bats and rubbers will motivate the players and help them perform well at the African Youth Championships.”
Mr Charles Tachie-Menson, Technical Director of the Ghana Table Tennis Association, received the items on behalf of the team, expressed gratitude to the former national champion for the timely support.
He described the donation as a major boost to the team’s preparations and called on more Ghanaians, particularly those in the diaspora, to support for the development of table tennis in the country.
Mr Tachie-Menson said, “This is a timely boost for the team, contributions like this from Ghanaians in the diaspora will go a long way in developing the sport and helping us challenge for honours at the African Youth Championships. This is a good gesture from Felix, and we applaud it.”
The African Youth Championships is scheduled to take place from July 20 to 29, 2026, at the Borteyman Sports Complex in Accra, where some of Africa’s finest young table tennis players would compete for continental honours.
The Ghana team has intensified preparations and would be aiming to make a strong impression on home soil.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade