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Tag: African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF)

  • Sanwo-Olu  salutes ‘true  Lagosian’ Oshodi  over ATTF election

    Sanwo-Olu  salutes ‘true  Lagosian’ Oshodi  over ATTF election

    African  table tennis body seeks private investment

     Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has praised the election of Wahid Enitan Oshodi as the 6th  President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) on Tuesday (October 15) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    Oshodi, a former Lagos  Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development, was unanimously elected at the Elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the continental body held at the African Union (AU) headquarters.

    “We are indeed proud of a true Lagosian who has continued to put Nigeria and Lagos on the world map through his sheer ingenuity in sports. His rising profile within and outside the continent has not come as a surprise, as he has shown to be a reliable hand when it comes to sports development.

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    “His keen interest in youth development has helped to unearth several stars like Quadri Aruna and Olajide Omotayo. He is loved by the athletes and genuinely takes a special interest in their welfare. Since he left office as Commissioner, he has kept faith in sports, and this has been confirmed by his unanimous election in Addis Ababa,” said Governor Sanwo-Olu.

    Sanwo-Olu also pledged the state’s support to Oshodi and called on other Nigerians to support their compatriot, who has continued to make the country proud with his international acceptance.

    Meanwhile, Oshodi in his post-election speech, has  called  for more private sector support for table tennis.

     “I think the support I have received has been overwhelming, and the team we have built has been very supportive. We must also commend the outgoing President for his excellent work, and we hope to continue from where he left off. It is time to bring table tennis to the forefront in Africa, alongside sports like athletics, football, and basketball. We have many young talents in Africa, and now is the time to help them reach the top of world table tennis,” Oshodi said.

    “We cannot continue to rely solely on government and ITTF funding for our tournaments and activities. It is time to involve private and corporate bodies to help grow the sport’s fortunes and hopefully raise the standard to produce more superstars in Africa,” Oshodi added.

    He also emphasized the importance of unity among member associations in Africa, stating that unity would help achieve more for the continent.

    In a related development, re-elected Executive Vice President of Finance, Hajera Kajee of South Africa described Oshodi’s election as a testament to his achievements in the sport. She expressed optimism in his ability to transform table tennis in Africa.

    Newly elected ITTF Council member, Olabanji Oladapo, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Oshodi’s commitment and passion for the sport and calling for more support for the new board to surpass the achievements of previous ATTF administrations.

  • Eyes on Oshodi, Oladapo as ATTF goes to polls in Adis-Ababa

    Eyes on Oshodi, Oladapo as ATTF goes to polls in Adis-Ababa

    A new era in the history of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) will start today  as the 54-member continental sports body heads to the polls to elect its executives for the next four years.

    Outgoing President Khaled El-Salhy, after serving three terms (2010-2024), has decided not to seek re-election, paving the way for new leadership.

    Nigeria’s Wahid Enitan Oshodi, currently the Deputy President of ATTF and Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), is the leading candidate to replace El-Salhy.

    Cameroon’s Alfred Bagueka is the only nominee for the Deputy President position. The Vice President, Administration post will see a contest between Egypt’s Moataz Ashour and Algeria’s Cherif Derkaoui.

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    For the VP Finance, incumbent South Africa’s Hajera Kajee will compete against Sudan’s Ali Ayman. Uganda’s Robert Jjagwe and Ghana’s Mawuko Afadzinu will vie for the VP Marketing role.

    Incumbent Alfred Germain Karou will face Equatorial Guinea’s Stanley Anyama Mera for VP Technical. The VP Media and PR position has Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Bizane, Botswana’s Kudzanani Motswagole, and Mauritania’s El Hacen Mohamed in contention. Kenya’s Andrew Mudibo will retain his post as VP Development.

    Eight candidates are competing for five Regional Vice President slots, while 15 candidates, including outgoing ATTF President Khaled El-Salhy and Nigeria’s Olabanji Oladapo are contesting for eight ITTF Council positions.

    The election will be overseen by ITTF Secretary General Raul Calin, with ITTF President Petra Sorling in attendance at the Elective Annual General Meeting of the ATTF taking place at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

  • The other sides of Liege

    The other sides of Liege

    The 2017 ITTF World Cup has come and gone with new winners emerging from the three-day championship, but there were behind-the-scene happenings that were captured byOLALEKAN OKUSAN who covered the tournament in the host city of Liege in Belgium.

    Huge support from Belgians

    From the start of the 2017 ITTF World Cup, it was obvious that Aruna Quadri would face a huge task of advancing to the main draw of the tournament. However, the Nigerian did not only progress but he enjoyed the support of the home fans in Liege. Definitely, Aruna Quadri has become a global brand in world table tennis and this was confirmed with the huge support the Nigerian got at the just concluded ITTF World Cup held in Liege, Belgium. The shouts of ARUNA which reverberated round the Country Hall of Liege whenever the Nigerian was playing and this support must have inspired the Polish Open champion against the young American – Kanak Jha in the second group match. Not only did Quadri get regular cheers from the fans, the number of people who besieged him for his autograph after every match, attested to the followership the Nigerian enjoyed among the Europeans.

    The Nigerian flag surfaced

    Although there were no Nigerian supporters at the event to cheer Quadri, some Belgians who decided to become the obvious supporters of the Nigerian were seen with Nigerian flags among the fans.

    They wrapped themselves with the flags and their shouts of ARUNA most times shook the hall. Even when Quadri was on the receiving end during the main draw encounter against Japanese Jun Mizutani, the adopted Nigerian fans continued to show their support for Quadri and they were also acknowledged by the Nigerian who went round to praise them for their huge support.

    Second most supported star

    Aside from Germany’s Timo Boll who had the highest support in Liege, Aruna Quadri was the second most supported star on parade, on and off the table. Belgians took time out to exchange pleasantries with the Nigerian after every match and a positive attitude made Quadri the delight for Liege fans.

    A proud continental helmsman

    The President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy was so excited about the presence of two African stars in Belgium, and he hopes this will continue under his leadership. He was particularly thrilled by the performance of Aruna Quadri and Omar Assar while describing the stars as good ambassadors for the continent.

    Overruled time-out paid off

    In the second group match between Aruna Quadri and American Kanak Jha, the Nigerian displayed some acts which stunned the fans. When the American was leading the fourth game, Coach Martin Adomeit made a call for the time-out, but the Nigerian pleaded with the tactician to overrule it. It was this strategic decision that saved the day for Aruna Quadri who later won the encounter at 4-2 to confirm his progress to the main draw.

    An icing on the cake for Quadri

    Despite exiting the 2017 ITTF World Cup in the main draw, the city of Liege will remain indelible in the mind of Aruna Quadri as it was in the quiet city that the Nigerian signed his first major endorsement contract with Nigeria’s foremost betting firm – Premier Lotto a.k.a Baba Ijebu. This is a major step for Quadri’s career, that a local company could come to his aid and endorse him for a three-year deal of $75,000. This will surely give the African Champion the chance to attend more competitions. But like Oliver Twist, Quadri is still yearning for more corporate firms to identify with his Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games dream

    Japanese media trailing Quadri

    Having watched Aruna Quadri stunning several Japanese stars in major competitions, several Japanese journalists that were present in Liege were eager to have a chat with the Nigerian. They made efforts to book an interview with the African star and they wanted to know how an African could be so good to be competing against the world’s best in a world-class tournament. Quadri had several sessions with some of them, while some promised to visit him at his base in Portugal to study his lifestyle and training methods. 

  • ITTF Championships: ATTF predicts Nigeria, Egypt rivalry in Morocco

    ITTF Championships: ATTF predicts Nigeria, Egypt rivalry in Morocco

    The President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy has predicted renewed rivalry between the continent powerhouses- Nigeria and Egypt at the forthcoming ITTF African Senior Championship holding in Agadir, Morocco.From October 24 to 30, countries across Africa will converge in Agadir, which is a major city in Morocco, located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean near the foot of the Atlas Mountains for the seven-day championship.

    From October 24 to 30, countries across Africa will converge in Agadir, which is a major city in Morocco, located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean near the foot of the Atlas Mountains for the seven-day championship.

    According to the President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, the tournament serves as qualification for the 2017 World Team Cup with Enbeath Complex hosting the championship with eight events in singles, teams and doubles to be battled for.

    As usual, the tournament is expected to re-ignite the rivalry between the continent powerhouses – Nigeria and Egypt while Congo Brazzaville is also another title contender.

    The ATTF helmsman added: “It will be a tough competition between the top countries, especially Egypt and Nigeria. Egypt is aiming to retain the titles for both team events while Nigeria is looking to use the performance of Aruna Quadri in previous tournaments at world levels to secure the sole slot for the 2017 World Team Cup.”

    “There is no doubt that the traditional forces are going to dazzle and I am expecting the promoted countries to prove themselves (i.e. Ghana whom made a big surprise a the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville by getting a bronze medal), and I see also that Congo Brazzaville, Algeria and Tunisia will be teams to watch out in terms of making it to the podium in Morocco,” El-Salhy added.

    With over 15 countries expected at the championship which will also host the Annual General Congress of the continental body and the ATTF boss reaffirmed the readiness of the host nation for the table tennis fiesta.

    “All preparation and arrangement for the competition seems to be working well with the main hotel already secured as well as the venue and I hope it will be a successful event,” he said.

  • ATTF confirms Nigeria, Egypt, two others for World Juniors

    The African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) has confirmed Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria as the continent’s flag bearers at the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship holding in Cape Town, South Africa in October.

    In a statement by the President of ATTF, Khaled El-Salhy, the four teams confirmed their qualification among the 12 teams that featured at the last ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship in Algiers.

    Egypt and Nigeria will compete in the boys and girls events at the global tournament while the girls’ team from Algeria and the boys’ team from Tunisia will join the two continental superpowers at the tournament holding in November this year.

    Aside the four countries that will represent Africa at the championship, host – South Africa will also be presenting its boys and girls teams for the competition.

    Similarly, the continental body also named the eight-man team that will constitute an African team for the 2016 World Cadet Challenge in China.

    The team is dominated by players from Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, while Nigeria and Congo Brazzaville completed the list.

    Cadet champions – Egypt’s duo of Marwan Abdelwahab and Rinad Fathy top the list. Others are Tunisia’s pair of Aboubaker Bourass and Manel Baklouti as well as Algeria’s Malissa Nasri and Abdelbasset Chaichi. Other members of the team are Nigeria’s Esther Oribamise and Congo Brazzaville’s Regis Kiassi. The ITTF World Cadet Challenge holds on October 21 to 29.

  • ITTF: Nigeria beats Tunisia to second spot as Egypt rules

    ITTF: Nigeria beats Tunisia to second spot as Egypt rules

    Despite presenting the lowest number of players coupled with conceding the top place in Egypt, Nigeria’s six-man team finished second in the overall medal table ahead of Tunisia at the 2016 ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship which ended yesterday in Algiers.

    However, Egypt’s dominance at the seven-day championship was obvious as the 22-man team from Cairo claimed all the 15 gold medals at stake in the competition.

    Being the host – Algeria’s 20-man team failed to finish among the top three teams despite dominating Nigeria in the female event, but the North African managed to settle for fourth place behind Tunisia which finished third with three silver medals.

    To claim the overall second place, Nigeria with the lowest number of players amassed four silver and four bronze medals in the teams and doubles events of the competition.

    Aside finishing second Nigeria boys and girls teams qualified for the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship in South Africa while Esther Oribamise also made the list of African eight-man team for the 2016 World Cadet Challenge holding in Shanghai, China in October.

    Tunisia has three silver and five bronze medals while Algeria which finished fourth had two silver and five bronze medals.

    Other teams that picked up medals are Congo Brazzaville with two bronze medals while Angola and Mauritius won one bronze medal each.

    Meanwhile, Egypt was adjudged the best teams for sweeping all the gold medals in 15 events contested for at the competition.

    A satisfied President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy commended the participating teams while urging the teams that qualified for the World Junior Championship to begin preparation in order to put up a good show in Cape Town come November

  • ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup: Quadri, Assar rivalry moves to Sudan

    ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup: Quadri, Assar rivalry moves to Sudan

    In continuation of their 2015 fierce rivalry, two of Africa’s best table tennis players, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Egypt’s Omar Assar will next month in Khartoum, Sudan re-enact their competition at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Top 16 Cup.

      Despite being seeded ahead of Quadri in the December continental ranking released by the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Assar is aware of the task ahead of him having being humiliated in the French league by the 2014 ITTF Star Player last December.

      Quadri, who has fended off the pressure on him which affected most of his performance against the Egyptian in three major finals in 2015, is the right frame of mind to wrestle the dominance from the Egyptian.

      For the Sudan tournament, ATTF has confirmed Quadri and six-time Olympian, Segun Toriola as well as Olufunke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong as Nigeria’s flag-bearers.

      In the list of qualified released by ATTF, Quadri who won the tournament in 2014 in Lagos will battle for the title against his rival, Assar who has remained a threat to the Nigerian dominating the continent.

      The tournament is scheduled to hold on February 14 to 15 has the top 15 players in the continent including a player from the host country to complete the top 16.

      Toriola will join Quadri to compete for the laurel in the men’s event while Oshonaike who has already secured a place at this year’s Rio Olympic Games in Brazil will be joined in the women event by Edem Offiong who is at present plying her trade in the Portuguese elite league.

      Having claimed three titles in 2015, the Egyptian duo of Omar Assar and Dina Meshref top the list of invitees for the two-day tournament to be staged at the International Conference Centre in Khartoum, the capital city of Sudan.

      Winners in the men and women events will represent the continent at the 2016 World Cups.

      The list of participants is: 

    Men:  Omar Assar (Egypt), Quadri Aruna (Nigeria), El-Sayed Lashin (Egypt), Saheed Idowu (Congo Brazzaville), Segun Toriola (Nigeria), Idir Khourta (Algeria), Suraju Saka (Congo Brazzaville), Olouwachehoun Guiganfode (Benin), Mawussi Agbetoglo (Togo), Sofiène Boudjadja (Algeria), Adem Hamam (Tunisia), Fessou Lawson-Gaizer (Togo), Alain Patrick Jague Niken Jiotsa (Cameroon), Derek Abrefa (Ghana), Emmanuel Ngwe Nikeng (Cameroon)

    Women: Dina Meshref (Egypt), Nadeen El-Dawlatly (Egypt), Han Xing (Congo Brazzaville), Olufunke Oshonaike (Nigeria), Offiong Edem (Nigeria), Sara Hanffou (Cameroon), Islem Laid (Algeria), Lynda Loghraibi (Algeria), Zodwa Maphanga (South Africa), Amma Liobaka (Democratic Republic of Congo), Onyinyechi Nwachukwu (Congo Brazzaville), Cynthia Kwabi (Ghana), Harriet Ntumnyuy (Cameroon), Celia baah-Danso (Ghana), Isabel Albino (Angola).

  • ITTF condoles with Nigeria over Ogunlade’s demise

    ITTF condoles with Nigeria over Ogunlade’s demise

    Executive member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Khaled El-Salhy has condoled with the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) over the untimely demise of former junior star, Azeez Ogunlade.

    A saddened, El-Salhy who is also the President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) described the passing on of the player as a big loss to table tennis in Africa.

      “I am so sad for such sudden news, we have really a remarkable player who represented Nigeria and Africa at both cadet and junior levels”, said Khaled El-Salhy. “My deepest condolences on behalf of African Table Tennis Federation Executive Committee are extended to the family of Azeez  Ogunlade family and the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation.

      Like El-Salhy, Vice President of ATTF, Olabanji Oladapo said: “The death of Azeez  Ogunlade came as a rude shock to me in d US where I am currently holidaying. It is very unfortunate that ATTF had to lose such a budding star at a tender age. I commiserate with the President, Secretary-General, entire members of the board of NTTF, players, family and his friends on his demise. May we not witness such sudden death again in the federation.”

    Anan Executive Vice President, Development of ATTF, Farah Hassan Farah said: “This is a heart breaking news! ! It is shocking to hear it. On behalf of Djiboutian federation, tennis table players, and specially my son Abdourazack are join me to present their sincere sympathies to Azeez Family and President Wahid Oshodi.”

    Ogunlade died on Sunday 15th November after a brief illness; he was only 20 years old.