The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has won the men’s singles gold medal at the 8th Nigeria-China Table Tennis Friendship Tournament in Abuja.
The council’s representative, Ignatius Nkwoh, defeated Chinese player Xu Haitao in the final of the competition held on Sunday at the China Cultural Centre, Abuja.
Nkwoh, a journalist with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), emerged champion, while Xu settled for silver. Another Nigerian journalist, Eke Nwokeocha, finished third to claim bronze.
The tournament featured men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles and mixed doubles, with participants from Nigeria and China.
In the men’s doubles, China’s Xu Haitao and Shi Changqiang won gold, while the Nigerian pair of Nwokeocha and Nkwoh finished second. China’s He Chaodong and Li Shuidi took third place.
China also swept the top three positions in the women’s singles, with Nie Xiaohua winning gold, Zhang Yaping taking silver and Wu Tianxia claiming bronze.
In the mixed doubles, Shi Changqiang and Zhang Yaping won gold, while Xu Haitao and Wu Tianxia finished second. Nigeria’s Musa Odion and Chioma A. Love took third place.
Speaking at the event, NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Grace Ike, described the tournament as an opportunity for journalists from both countries to interact outside the newsroom.
She said the competition promotes physical fitness, discipline, teamwork and professional unity while strengthening relations between Nigeria and China.
“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,” Ike said.
She commended the China Cultural Centre for sustaining the tournament over eight editions and congratulated the winners and other participants.
Earlier, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, said the tournament was an avenue for promoting friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries.
He said sporting activities helped bridge language and cultural differences, adding that exchanges on the table tennis court reflected mutual respect, teamwork and fair play.
Yang also acknowledged the role of the Nigerian media in reporting developments in China-Nigeria relations, particularly in trade, investment, culture, education, science and technology.
He noted that 2026 marked the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China.
The diplomat also highlighted China’s introduction of zero-tariff treatment for imports from 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, effective May 1, 2026.
In his remarks, Nkwoh thanked the NUJ FCT Council leadership and the organisers for the opportunity to participate in the tournament.
He dedicated his trophy to Ike and members of the council’s executive for their support and encouragement.
The NUJ FCT Council also thanked the sponsors, partners and organisers, expressing hope for a successful ninth edition in 2027.
By Wisdom Joshua
