The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bode Abiodun

Olympics: Table tennis team won’t disappoint Nigerians – Abiodun

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.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist will join Toriola and 2014 ITTF Star Player to compete in the men’s team event of the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil when the table tennis event serves on August 6.

July 27, 2016
ITTF Open: Foreign players eager to return for 2017 edition

After having nice time while taking part in the 2016 ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open, some of the foreigners that featured in the five-day tournament say they would be willing to return to Lagos come 2017.

From women singles champion, Portugal’s Jieni Shao to men singles winner, Finland’s Benedek Olah, the atmosphere at the competition was friendly enough to entice players to return.

“I think I really enjoyed myself in Lagos. I think the fans were unique and I really feel them whenever I am playing. This is not common across the world as the fans were always supporting us. I hope to come back because I really played very well particularly the quarterfinal and semifinal matches against Nigeria’s Bode Abiodun and Segun Toriola. They were my toughest opponents because they played with a lot of spin with different kind of style.

He added: “My game is now on another level because I was consistent in this tournament and this paid off for me to win my first World Tour title. I have a good feeling throughout the tournament and I hope to be back next year. I did not regret being invited by Aruna Quadri and I think it is a god atmosphere for the players and I must also commend the organisers for a good job.

Russia’s Irina Ermakova believes her third visit to Nigeria was fruitful just as she hopes to return again in 2016. “Being my third time in Lagos, I think winning gold after third attempt was exciting. It was not an easy match but my teammate really helped a lot. I think the unity between us really was helpful. I am happy and I look forward to returning to Lagos. The fans were awesome and they were very supportive of all the players as well as the warmness of the Nigeria people,” the Russian said.

May 24, 2016
Abiodun returns to ITTF World Tour in Poland

After his scintillating performance at the 2016 World Team Championship in Malaysia, Portugal-based Bode Abiodun will today returns to action as he competes at the ITTF World Tour tagged Polish Open.

Abiodun who is likely to make the Nigeria’s men team to the Rio Olympic Games has been pitched against Panama’s Alberto Gorgona and Russia’s Fedor Kuzmin in Group 31 of the preliminary round of the men’s singles event. Abiodun, who is ranked 185 in the World, will battle the Russian, who is rated higher than the Nigerian.

Abiodun’s first game will be against the Panama boy while his last encounter in the group holds tomorrow against the highly-rated Russian. One player is expected to progress to the knockout stage of the singles event.

Also, another African team – Egypt has a six-man team taking part in the five-day tournament holding in Warsaw.

Omar Assar is leading the team to the tournament and he has been listed among the seeded players for the competition while his sibling, Khalid will be campaigning from the preliminary stage.

Also in the North African team are African U-21 champion, Shady Magdy as well as Nadeen El-Dawlatly and Galila Nasser.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa is the top seed followed immediately by her compatriot, Ai Fukuhara, with Mima Ito being the No. 4 seed; notably both Kasumi Ishikawa and Ai Fukuhara have each won five ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles titles, Mima Ito has two such successes against her name.

However, there are four former ITTF World Tour Polish Open Women’s Singles winners on duty in Warsaw.
Feng Tianwei who emerged successful in all Singaporean final in 2008, when she beat Wang Yuegu is on duty, as is Li Jiao of the Netherlands and Korea’s Seo Hyowon.

Li Jiao won in 2010 when she accounted for Spain’s Shen Yanfei in the final; more recently in 2013, Seo Hyowon emerged successful beating for China’s Sheng Dandan in the title deciding contest.

At the 2016 ITTF World Tour Polish Open, Feng Tianwei is the no.3 seed, Seo Hyowon is the no.6 seed, and Li Jiao is the no.13 seed.

April 19, 2016
ITTF World Tour: Quadri, Assar lead African stars to German Open
- Joola gets German coach for Nigerian
Africa’s best table tennis players, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Egypt’s Omar Assar will lead 15 other African players to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged German Open holding in Berlin from January 27 to 31.

As the first Super series among the six in the ITTF World calendar, the German Open boasts $120,000 prize money with some of the world’s best including world number one, China’s Ma Long will be competing at the five-day tournament.

Also to ensure that Aruna Quadri has a good outing in the competition, table tennis kits firm, Joola has engaged the services of former German coach, Martin Aldomeit, who handled the 2014 ITTF Star Player at the 2014 World Cup in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Unlike the Major and Challenge series where players will compete from the group to qualify to the main draw, German Open is staged in a knockout format.

Also only the top 16 in the world are seeded for the tournament with over 200 players competing for the 48 slots in the main draw of the men’s singles.

Quadri, who recently made it to the last eight of the Hungarian Open is in fine shape for the tournament and he will also partner compatriot, Bode Abiodun in the doubles and they will be hoping for good outing just like they got to quarterfinal at the Hungarian Open in Budapest.

Egypt has the largest number of players from Africa competing at the German Open with Omar Assar be joined by veterans like El-Sayed Lashin and Ahmed Saleh as well as Mohammed El-Beiali and Khalid Assar.

Algeria will be led by Sami Kherouf and he will be joined by three other male players while Islem Laid will champion the female campaign for the North Africa.

The best female player in Africa, Egypt’s Dina Meshref will lead other three players in the women’s singles and she will be hoping to better her first round exit at the Hungarian Open.

In the draw conducted yesterday by the organisers, Nigeria’s Abiodun will begin his campaign against France’s Romain Lorentz, while Quadri will begin his battle from the second round against Chinese Taipei’s Chia-Shengto Lee.

Meanwhile, many of the top players will be seeking to repeat previous triumphs they have had at the German Open.

The names of the players in question are China’s Ma Long, the host nation’s Timo Boll and Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus. Furthermore, Dimitrij Ovtcharov can be added to the list as well as China’s Zhang Jike; all are previous winners
January 26, 2016
Quadri, Abiodun for ITTF World Tour in Hungary

Nigeria’s players will be present when the first International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged Hungarian Open serves off tomorrow with Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun competing in the men’s singles and doubles events.

Already, Quadri has been listed among the 32 seeded players in the men’s singles while Abiodun will begin his campaign from the preliminary stage in order to secure a place in the main draw.

However, before joining his compatriot, Quadri will lead his team – Jura Morez against Angers Vaillante in the French Premier League.

The 2014 ITTF Star Player who departed his based in Lisbon, Portugal to France yesterday is hoping for another good outing against the star-studded Angers Vaillante side made up of top players like Sweden’s Jen Lundqvist and Jon Persson as well as France’s Christophe Legout and China’s Chen Jian.

“I think I want to do well in the ITTF World Tour this year and reclaim my title in Africa as well as help Nigeria to do well at the World Championship. These are my priorities for this year and I believe with more hardwork and God’s grace, it will be achievable,” Quadri told NationSport.

In the list of seeding, Quadri is rated number six and he will be campaigning from the main draw while he partner Abiodun to compete in the doubles event.

The Hungarian Open is one of the major series tournament in the ITTF World Tour and it will take place in the capital city of Budapest from Wednesday January 20 to 24.

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January 18, 2016