Twenty-five young table tennis prospects from different parts of Nigeria are undergoing intensive training at the National Stadium in Lagos as part of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation’s (NTTF) National Hopes Week.

This week-long initiative blends technical coaching with competitive match play, serving as a selection process for four standout players, two boys and two girls, who will represent Nigeria at the 2025 ITTF Africa Hopes Week and Challenge, set for July in Lagos.

Kicking off on April 2, the programme is scheduled to wrap up on April 7, when the final squad will be unveiled.

Backed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and ITTF Africa, the camp features training sessions led by ITTF-certified coaches, who are equipping the young athletes with key skills in footwork, stroke mechanics, and tactical awareness.

Youth coach Ifeoma Isaac highlighted the value of the initiative, especially in addressing technical gaps.

“Kudos to NTTF for putting this together for the under-12 category. We identified some weaknesses in their footwork and backhand technique, and we’ve spent the past few days addressing those areas. The hope is that camps like this become a regular feature to support long-term development,” Isaac said.

She also emphasized the players’ enthusiasm as a major positive. “They’ve shown real excitement about learning, which helps us teach more effectively. What we really need now is consistency in training opportunities to prepare our players for international standards,” she added.

Several participants expressed appreciation to the NTTF and ITTF Africa for the opportunity, noting that the exposure and structured training would boost their future performance.

The ITTF Africa Hopes Week and Challenge plays a critical role in developing emerging talent on the continent and acts as a gateway to the elite-level ITTF World Hopes Week.