NATIONAL ping-pong champion, Friday Ng'andu over the weekend won the inaugural Chinese Ambassador's Table Tennis men's singles trophy, while Matsipiso Osi of Botswana grabbed the women singles title.

During games played at Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) on Sunday, Ng'andu beat fellow Zambian Simasiku Kalaluka 3-0 with set scores of 11-3, 11-8, 11-5 to claim the top prize of K1,000 and a trophy, while Kalaluka walked away with K500 for his efforts.

To get to the final, Ng'andu beat Noel Kasanda 3-0, while Kalaluka recorded a 3-1 win over Thobo Matlhatsi of Botswana.

In the men's doubles, Ng'andu teamed up with Lloyd Mubanga to squeeze in a hard fought 3-2 win over the Botswana pair of Matlhatsi and Tico Motswasele winning 7-11, 11-3, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6 to both get the K500 prize money with the losers pocketing K250 each.

Osi emerged supreme in the women singles to get K500 after beating Botswana's Tshepiso Rebatenne, who got K200.

Osi edged Tshepiso 3-2 in a tightly contested final after losing the first set 4-11 but came strong to win the second and third sets 11-6, 11-9. She went on to lose the fourth set 7-11 before claiming the decider 12-10.

In the semi-finals, Osi beat Zambia's Gretrude Phiri 2-1 with Rebatenne overcoming Katie Phiri 2-0.

She later teamed up with Boitshwarelo Butale in the doubles final to defeat the Zambian pair of Katie and Gertrude 3-1 with set scores 9-11, 11-8, 11-5 to pocket K250, while the losers got K100 each.

In the boys under-18 event, Choolwe Halamambo continued with his fine form that has seen him dominate the national junior championships, beating ping-pong Stars team-mate Danny Phiri 2-0 in the finals.

Hamalambo beat Mwiza Siame of Ng'ombe PTA School 2-0 in the semi-finals, while Phiri beat former national junior champion Simon Mwando of Ng'ombe PTA School 2-0.

Hamalambo won himself a gift voucher worth K150 with Phiri getting a voucher worth K100.

Meanwhile, Zambia Table Tennis Association (ZTTA) patron Haroon Ghumra described the tournament as a success, saying it attracted players from Botswana and the Chinese community making it a three-nation event.

Ghumra commended the Chinese Embassy for their K11, 000 sponsorship aimed at developing the sport in the country.

He said Botswana sent a strong 13-member squad with the Chinese team contributing 10 players and the Zambian players leading with the biggest contingent.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao, who played an exhibition match with ZTTA president Charles Chenda, said he was impressed with the organisation of the tournament.