With Team Nigeria making a return to the men’s team table tennis event, a member of the team to Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Bode Abiodun believes with the new system of play introduced by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), every team has equal chance to make the podium in Brazil.
The Portugal-based player told NationSport that he was excited attending his first Olympic Games , while admitting that the presence of veteran Segun Toriola would inspire the three-man team to do well and not just participating.
“I am so happy making my first appearance at the Olympic Games because this is the biggest sporting event in the world and it is the dream of every athlete to make it to the Olympic Games. Also I know that nobody focuses on us because they see us an underdog but I must say that we are going to Rio to make our presence count. The new playing system introduced by ITTF has given all the 16 participating equal opportunity to make it to the podium. Being the continent’s representative, we will surely make impact in Rio,” Abiodun said.