CEBU, Philippines — Hundreds of table paddlers will plunge into action as the 28th Erne Jawad Memorial Table Tennis Cup gets underway today at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu atrium.
Held in memory of the late Cebuano table netter Erne Jawad, the annual tilt prides itself as the longest existing table tennis tournament in the country.
Event organizer and Cebu City Sports Commissioner Jessica Jawad-Honoridez is overwhelmed by the huge turnout of entries.
The Jawad Cup is considered as the breeding ground of Pinoy table tennis talents. Among its brightest products are World Championship player Richard Gonzales and the late Ian Larriba, the first Filipina table tennis Olympian.
Honoridez said they want to make the tournament extra special by offering cash prize to the top performers on top of the specially designed trophies. All participants will also receive souvenir shirts.
The two-day tiff sanctioned by the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (TATAP) features a singles and team competition for men’s, women’s, boys and girls 17 and 13-under categories. The executive division is only a singles event.