Accra, Jan. 02, GNA – Highly rated Ghanaian Table Tennis player Derek Abrefa has won the 2021 edition of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Grandmasters Championship held at the D. G. Hathiramani Hall, Accra Sports Stadium.
Derek Abrefa saw off the challenge from Felix Lartey narrowly edging him 3-2 in the best of five games.
Abrefa who represented Ghana at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia was unbeaten throughout the Grandmaster Championship having made it to the finals after comfortably beating Bernard Joe Sam 3-1 in the semis.
Speaking to the media after his victory, Abrefa was elated to become a table tennis Grandmaster and said the Championship would prepare him for the Commonwealth Games qualifiers later in January, 2022.
”I am so excited to win this year’s Stanbic National Grandmasters Championship. I have always dreamt of becoming a Grandmaster title holder and my biggest thanks goes to God for how far he has brought me.
”I also thank the GTTA Executives for bringing back the Grandmasters after a 41-year absence and special thanks goes to my coach, Ebenezer Anang-Whyte and all those who supported me in diverse ways to win the Championship.
“My focus now is on the qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games later in January and Ghanaians should expect more from me as I work towards qualifying for the Birmingham Games and possibly win a medal,” he said.
In the female’s category, Cynthia Kwabi was crowned the Grandmaster after beating Eva Adom Amankwaa 3-2 in the best of five games.
Kwabi came back from two games down to edge her counterparts to win the tournament.
GNA