Ignatius Nkwoh Leads NUJ Winners At 2026 China-NUJ Table Tennis Tournament In Abuja
By Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Journalist Ignatius Nkwoh of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has emerged champion in the men’s singles event of the 2026 China-NUJ Table Tennis Friendship Tournament held in Abuja, finishing ahead of China’s Xu Haitao, who took second position.
Another NUJ representative, Eke Nwokeocha, secured third position in the men’s singles category, giving Nigerian journalists two places on the podium.
The tournament, which brought together Nigerian and Chinese participants, featured men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles and mixed doubles events.
In the men’s doubles, China’s Xu Haitao and Shi Changqiang emerged champions, while NUJ’s Eke Nwokeocha and Ignatius Nkwoh finished second. China’s He Chaodong and Li Shuidi came third.
China dominated the women’s singles, with Nie Xiaohua claiming first position, followed by Zhang Yaping in second place and Wu Tianxia in third.
The mixed doubles event also saw a strong showing by the Chinese contingent, as Shi Changqiang and Zhang Yaping emerged winners, while Xu Haitao and Wu Tianxia finished second. Nigeria’s Musa Odion and Chioma A. Love secured third position for NUJ.
The competition marked the eighth edition of the annual sporting event organised through the partnership between the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria and the NUJ FCT Council.
Speaking at the event, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, described table tennis as more than a sporting activity, saying it had become an important bridge for strengthening friendship and understanding between the peoples of China and Nigeria.
Yang said the competition had consistently provided an opportunity for participants from both countries to interact, improve their sporting skills and build lasting relationships beyond cultural and language differences.
He noted that the annual tournament reflected the importance of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening bilateral relations, adding that sports could promote mutual respect, teamwork, trust and fair play.
The Chinese diplomat also acknowledged the contributions of the NUJ and the wider Nigerian media community to promoting understanding of China-Nigeria relations through their coverage of cooperation in trade, investment, culture, education, science and technology.
He expressed appreciation to Nigerian journalists for their role in strengthening cultural understanding and promoting friendship between the two countries.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of NUJ FCT Council, Grace Ike, commended the China Cultural Centre for sustaining the partnership with the union through eight editions of the tournament.
Ike described the initiative as a demonstration of genuine friendship and commitment to cultural exchange and people-to-people engagement.
She said although the attractive prizes added excitement to the competition, the greater reward remained the friendship, unity and professional solidarity fostered among journalists and their Chinese counterparts.
According to her, the tournament provided an opportunity for participants to compete with passion, discipline and sportsmanship while strengthening relationships among members of the journalism profession.
“We played to win, but we must also remember that at the end of every match, we remain one, united colleagues and members of one professional family,” she said.
The NUJ FCT Chairperson urged journalists to uphold the values of peace, unity and mutual understanding not only in their professional responsibilities but also in their relationships with one another.
She particularly thanked the China Cultural Centre for hosting and funding the tournament, expressing the council’s commitment to an even stronger partnership in 2027.
The eighth edition of the China-NUJ Table Tennis Friendship Tournament further demonstrated how sports and cultural exchanges can strengthen diplomatic relations and build lasting connections between Nigeria and China.
