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The Offiong Edem Foundation has unveiled plans for the 6th edition of its annual Table Tennis Tournament to be hosted in Calabar, Cross River State. The foundation also announced an expanded four-category format and a total prize money of N3 million. Edem, who is based in the United States where she works as a coach, said the tournament is aimed at discovering and supporting young talents who lack access to quality equipment and facilities. Speaking on Wednesday in Calabar, the five-time Olympian said an additional category was created after she observed a large turnout of young players. She said, “Initially I had three categories, but when I arrived and saw a lot of young people, like about seven to eight years, I decided to include Under 11 years. So right now it’s going to be 4 categories. We’re having Under 11, Under 13, Under 15, and Youth Open.” As part of the 6th edition, Edem distributed rackets and other playing equipment to young athletes, adults, and coaches, saying that it is a way to encourage their aspirations. “I gifted more than 50 persons kits. I also gave some adults and coaches. The equipment is expensive. This is a way of supporting young talents who lack access to quality equipment and facilities”, Edem said. Edem, a former national champion, said her passion stems from her own struggles growing up as a player in Nigeria, stressing that she had noted significant improvement among the players compared to last year and called for government intervention. “I am just trying to build more Offiong Edems, because I started from here. I knew how it was then to buy equipment. It was very expensive. So I just don’t want the game to end with me. “If these young people can play in this kind of environment, and they are playing so well; if the government should try to push, do a little bit, I think they will go far. This is the only thing I do. This is how I’m sustaining them,” she said. She further disclosed plans to personally sponsor three outstanding players to national tournaments twice a year to give them more exposure, adding that for this year’s edition, the foundation has increased prize money by 15 per cent to a total of N3 million, to be shared across the four categories.