Ghana’s Table Tennis star Cynthia Kwabi is multi-talented as she blends her professional play with academics, Umpiring, Coaching and Player Advocacy.
The three-time Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) award winner has represented Ghana in three Commonwealth Games; Glasgow, Scotland in 2014, Gold Coast, Australia in 2018, and Birmingham, United Kingdom in 2022.
She has also participated in the African Games on three occasions in 2011 in Maputo Mozambique, Rabat Morocco in 2019, and 2023 in Accra Ghana.
Academically, Cynthia Kwabi has two degrees, a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Cape Coast and another Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Ghana. Additionally, she has a Diploma in Social Administration from the University of Ghana. Other qualifications include International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Basic umpire, Tournament Organisation, Basic Refereeing, Administration and Level One Coaching certificates.
Off the table, she is passionate about the welfare of table tennis players in Ghana and Africa. She advocates for positive developments and wellbeing of players. She attended the African Athletes Forum in Algeria and also the International Athletes Forum in Switzerland in 2023.
The evergreen national table tennis team captain who works for the Ghana Immigration Service has been with the national team since 2005, rising through the ranks from the cadet team to the senior team.
She won her first national opens title in 2005 at the J. A. Biney Cadet and Junior Opens. In 2009 at the African Zone 3 Junior and Cadet Championships in Ivory Coast she won gold in the mixed doubles event. She has consistently over the years helped the national female team to win many laurels.
She is a force to reckon with in Africa, and a mentor to the next generation.
By Clement Osei Aboagye
