JEDDAH, 8 March — A ceremony to mark the opening of the first LG Table Tennis Tournament was held on Wednesday night. Twenty-eight teams in their match uniforms representing various business establishments and an international school were present at the ceremony that also marked an exhibition match at Alhamra Sofitel Hotel here.
Glittering trophies for winners were on display at the hall, which was decorated with banners of LG Electronics and its business partners - United Yousef M. Naghi Est. and H.G. Ibrahim Shaker Company.
Ho Kyoung Seo, general manager, LG Electronics in Saudi Arabia, who was the chief guest, welcomed the teams for their enthusiastic participation and hoped to make the tournament an annual event. “I would like to assure you that LG will remain actively involved in sports. We wish to make this event as interesting as possible through various incentives for both participants and winners,” he added.
Asadullah Ghalib, president, Jeddah Table Tennis League, referred to LG’s sponsorship of the tournament and hoped its cooperation and support would help further boost the sport that had been showing signs of growing popularity. “With 28 teams - all nonprofessional — taking part in the first ever tournament, I expect it to be challenging and tough for all of them,” he said and hoped that the competition among participants would be fair and healthy. S.M. Arshad, marketing manager, LG, who conducted the proceedings, outlined the plan of the tournament and conducted a draw for matches. Six of the participants also received gifts at a draw held on the occasion. According to Arshad, matches will be played at 3 p.m. every Friday from March 15 and winners awarded trophies at the end of the final matches on April 12. Winners will also receive LG products as prizes from H.G. Ibrahim Shaker Company, the sole distributor for LG brand air conditioners in the Kingdom.
Picking the team names in the match draw were Ghassan Amer Al-Ayash, marketing manger LG product of United Yousef M. Naghi Electronics Division, and Sol Bou-Nacklie, vice president of H.G. Ibrahim Shaker Company, aside from Seo who later shook hands with all team captains.
Participating teams: Arab News, Blue Birds, Snas/DHL, Al-Suhaimi Pump Systems, Jeddah Graphic Center, Tokio Marine, Royal & Sun Alliance, Riyadh House Est., Saudi National Ins. Co., Saudi Blues (E.A. Juffali & Bros.), Al-Mokri Compound, NCSC United, Med Net Gulf, United Naghi Electronics Division, El-Esayi United Co., Saudi ABV Co., International Airport Projects, Gulf Cooperation Ins. Co., Sarawat (Arabian Stores Co.), SAB/TNT Express, FFP Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Jeddah Inter.Continental Hotel, Alhamra Sofitel Hotel, Funny Electronics, KFCC, Thamer International School (Team 1 & 2) and VIP Travel Club.
