Table Tennis Queen yearns for more glories

Celya Baah-Danso, two times winner of the DG Hathiramari Table Tennis Open has expressed her desire to win more glories in the game she loves very much.

Speaking to yours truly in an exclusive interview, the new recruit of the Ghana Armed Forcs said she no feels highly motivated and encouraged to play better and hopes to win more trophies, especially take the Hathiramani Cup for keeps because he was known to be a great personality for Ghana Table Tennis. After claiming the Top Eight of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) earlier in the year, she went for the Military training and after many months not holding the bat, she come out boldly to display a fantastic display to beat all opposition to win the latest event of the GTTA held on November 30 at the Hathiramani Sports Hall of the Accra Sports Stadium.

According to Celya, playing against the best has always been her easiest show as she once came back from 10-0 to win a game at the All African Games in Maputo.

“I love and want to play against the Nigerians, South Africans and Egyptians because they make the best in me come out” she stressed.

She felt cheated as she had beaten all the best players but never been honoured by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana at the annual Awards ceremony and she was very hopeful that 2013 would be different as she has already won two of the three events organized by the GTTA. Celya beat the 2012 SWAG Best Table Tennis player to claim the DG Hathiramari Cup. She has beaten all the female players including Cynthia Kwabie of CEPS, Beatrice Gyasi of the Ghana Police, Cynthia Annor who represented Ghana at the recent West African Championship. She wished that more Table Tennis Opens are held so that the players would be in top shape always. She appealed to corporate bodies like MTN, Techno, Coca-Cola and other big companies to part with some of their budget to support Table Tennis.

She however commended the GTTA executives and coaches for doing their best to sustain the sport and encouraging players to train.

Celya Baah-Danso who has joined her unit at the Northern Command HQ said she prays to be released any time there is a big championship.

“You know, one of my tsrgets is to win gold for the Ghana Armed Forces at the SESSA Games. This is one of my reasons for joining the force apart from gaining a good employment. I want to put Ghana Army top in sports. I am for sports and that is where I can shine best. I want to thank all my fans and sympathisers. I promise to win again and I ask for their prayers and the guidance of God Almighty” she said.

Celya attended Accra Poly and has represented Ghana in Table Tennis at the All African Games where she placed 14th out of 216 representing other Afrian nations.

She believes Ghana has more and better sports potential and the youth should be encouraged. She also urged the Sports Authorities not to fund football alone but think about the lesser known sports especially Table Tennis.