The 31-year-old former top seed is remembered for his fierce rivalry with his successor, Derek Abrefa.

The two players kept table tennis fans on their feet as they created more awareness about the sport with some spectacular performances at the D.G Hathiramani Hall of the Accra Stadium.

Lartey aims to become a trainer after retiring and has started working towards that in the United States.

 “I will continue my Level One and Two table tennis coaching courses in the United States and return to the country to impart my knowledge to Ghanaians,” the reserved Lartey told Graphic Sports in an exclusive interview at the Seven Great Princes Academy in Dansoman, Accra, last week.

He said having won 12 national championships and a bronze medal at the 2015 African Games, he was satisfied with his career.
“My failure to participate in the 2007 African Games in Algeria was the greatest disappointment in my career,” he confessed.

He, however, stated that he had no regrets for not being included in the team that competed at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Spider, as Lartey is popularly referred to in table tennis circles, is known for his domineering posture at the other side of the board.
He will also be remembered for the zeal with which his loyal supporters always thronged the Hathiramani Hall to cheer him on whenever he was in action.