The Nation Newspaper

Tag: International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)

  • 2019 ITTF World Championships: Toriola to make 21st appearance in Budapest

    Seven-time Olympian and Africa’s most successful table tennis player – Segun Toriola has been acknowledged for his longevity by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) as the former African champion will be making his 21st appearance at the 2019 World Championship holding in Budapest, Hungary on April 21 to 29.

    Toriola made his maiden appearance at the 1991 edition of the championship in Chiba, Japan.

    According to ITTF, this year’s tournament will see record numbers of participation: the 609 players representing 109 National Associations mark an increase on previous record figures posted at the last individual World Table Tennis Championships held in Dusseldorf, Germany in 2017.

    The world table tennis ruling body said the growth forms a positive step ahead of the ITTF introducing an expanded World Championships format in 2021, which aims to increase National Association participation of 47 percent closer to 100 percent global representation as more players will have a greater opportunity to take part thanks to the new World Championship stages.

    In Africa, Toriola has the record appearance at the tournament while Belarus’ Vladimir Samsonov will be making his 23rd World Championships – a record among current players.

    As Africa’s best playing nations – Nigeria and Egypt will be leading 11 other African nations to the global showpiece in the ancient city of Budapest.

    Other African nations heading to the party in Hungary are Algeria, Benin Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Cote d’Ivoire, Congo DRC, Cameroun, Djibouti, Ghana, Mauritius, Sierra Leone and Togo.

    Aruna Quadri, ranked 25th in the world, represents Africa’s big hope in the men’s Singles, with Egypt’s Dina Meshref- the continent’s biggest name in the women’s singles.

    Thirty-eight years old world no. 5, Timo Boll of Germany will be making his 19thWorld Championships career appearance in Budapest.

  • Table Tennis: Oyebode explains why he chose Italy over Nigeria

    Table Tennis: Oyebode explains why he chose Italy over Nigeria

    Nigerian-born Italian table tennis player, John Oyebode, says his decision to play for Italy is to associate himself with the numerous opportunities available in the Italian table tennis circuit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyebode is representing Italy in the ongoing “Seamaster ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open, holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

    Oyebode, who claimed two gold medals in the Cadet event of the 2017 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Italian Junior and Cadet Open, told NAN that his decision was already yielding results.

    “I believe that playing for Italy is the right choice for me and I don’t have any regrets about it so far.

    “The system over there supports players in all areas and gives room for development in both sports and education.

    “Also, there is regular sponsorship to go for training tours and participate in major international competitions to enhance players skills and welfare and many more benefits too numerous to mention,’’ the 15-year-old said.

    Oyebode, whose father, Michael was part of the Nigerian coaching crew to the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil, told NAN that his aspiration is to be among the top 10 players in the world.

    On the ongoing Challenge, the player said the event had been competitive so far due to the number of players and countries taking part.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 95 male and 55 female players are participating in the 46,000 dollars prize money ITTF Challenge.

    Olar Benedek of Finland and Shao Jieni of Portugal won the 2016 men’s and women’s singles event respectively.

    The competition which served-off on Aug. 9 will be concluded on Aug. 13.

  • Quadri, others know fate today in latest ITTF ranking

    Quadri, others know fate today in latest ITTF ranking

    There may be possible tilting in the top 30 when the February ranking of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is released today by the world table tennis ruling body with Aruna Quadri and other Nigerians hoping for an improvement in their world rating.
    For his performance at the last Hungarian Open where made it to the quarter-final stage, there are strong indications that Aruna Quadri will rise above 25th in the world, while Italy-based Olajide Omotayo who managed to record a victory in his matches at the Hungarian Open may also benefit in the latest ranking.
    25th in the world being the highest to have been achieved by an African,  Quadri may be hoping to etch another landmark with the possibility of shifting the goal post for other African players to aim at when the ranking is made public today in Switzerland.
    Unlike Aruna Quadri and Olajide Omotayo, the trio of Bode Abiodun, Ojo Onaolapo and Kazeem Makanjuola may be on the receiving ends following their below-par performance at the Hungarian Open as they all suffered defeats in all their matches.
    Quadri’s doubles partner for this year’s ITTF World Tour – Egypt’s Omar Assar may not really benefit from the ranking after not being able to advance beyond the main draw of the Hungarian Open despite being seeded number 15 in the men’s singles of the competition.
  • Quadri, others know fate today in latest ITTF ranking

    Quadri, others know fate today in latest ITTF ranking

  • Aruna Quadri may set new world table tennis record

    Aruna Quadri may set new world table tennis record

    Record setting Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri is inching closer to inking another feat when the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) releases the February 2017 ranking.

    In 2016, Quadri set unprecedented records after becoming the first African to qualify for the quarterfinal stage of the men’s singles of table tennis event of the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil as well as the only table tennis player from the continent to be ranked 25th in the ITTF world ranking.

    However, a new record may be in the offing for the Oyo State-born athlete in 2017 after his exceptional performance at the just concluded ITTF World Tour tagged Hungarian Open where his quarterfinal berth may have earned him some crucial ranking points that will push his ranking up the ladder when the February rating is released next week by the world table tennis ruling body.

    Seeded number nine in the men’s singles of the Hungarian Open, Quadri beat two of the world’s best from Germany and the Czech Republic to become the only African to ever made it far in the history of the Hungarian Open.

    Having started the year as world’s number 25th, Quadri’s imminent rise will be officially confirmed on February 1 with the expected new ranking for February.

    Meanwhile, the 2014 ITTF Star Player will lead his French club – Jura Morez against Villeneuve, which has French internationals Adrien Mattenet, Antoine Hachard and Stéphane Ouaiche in the elite French league on January 21.

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  • Nigerian Sports Award: Okusan is Sports Journalist of the Year

    Nigerian Sports Award: Okusan is Sports Journalist of the Year

     

     
    NationSport Senior Correspondent, Olalekan Okusan has emerged winner of this year’s Nigerian Sports Award as Sports Journalist of the Year in the print category.
    Okusan, who is currently in Cape Town, South Africa for the coverage of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Junior Championships, won the 5th edition of the award held at the Banquet Hall of Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday.
    Okusan, 2012 Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) winner, beat other nominees including New Telegraph’s Tobi Emmanuel and two other journalists from Goal.com to the coveted gong.
    The Mass Communication graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic had been a nominee of the awards in 2012 and this year, three of his works were considered by the award panel.
    He had devoted time and energy to comprehensive coverage of the Tennis beat and is a past winner of the Sports Business Media Award Sports Writer of the Year.
    In 2015, Okusan was also listed by an online medium – Ynaija.com as one of the most powerful young people in sports.
    In the other Journalist Category of the Award, Moses Praiz of Channels TV was awarded the TV Journalist of the Year, while Olawale Adigun of Top Radio named as the Radio Journalist of the Year. The Photo Journalist of the Year award went to Ayodele Ojo of Daily Sun newspaper.
    However, Men and Women of the Nigerian Paralympics team dominated the 5th edition of the award as Kehinde Paul and Lucy Ejike emerged Sport-man and Sport-woman of the year respectively.
    The duo also won the Special Sport Person of the Year (Men) and Special Sport Person of the Year (Women) Categories. Kehinde Paul won gold medal in the Powerlifting Men’s – 65Kg category while Ejike Lucy not only won gold in the 79kg, 86kg and 61kg powerlifting event respectively at the 2016 Paralympics games, but also broke the Paralympic Record (PR) and World Record (WR) by lifting 136kg, followed by a lift of 138kg, and then a massive lift of 142kg.
    Also, Special Recognition Award was given out to some deserving sport personalities. The first was given out to the League Management Company in recognition of its great job of turning around the Nigerian League.
    The next Special Recognition Award went to Nigeria first sporting heroes among who are the Nduka Ugbade-led 1985 Under-16 FIFA World Cup winning team and they were represented by two members of the team, Imama Amapakbo and Jonathan Akpoborie.
    The third Special Recognition Award went to Atlanta ’96 Olympic Gold Medal-winning football team, captained by Kano Nwankwo, represented at the event by the trio of Emmanuel Babayaro, Dosu Joseph and Victor Ikpeba.
    Also the 4X400 Nigerian Quartet Team that won silver but was later upgraded to Gold with the ban of the US team at Sydney 2000 were also given the Special Recognition Award.
    The duo of Maureen Madu and Joseph Yobo won the Special Recognition Awards for being the first ever Nigerian Woman footballer to achieve 100 caps and first Nigerian Man footballer to achieve 100 caps respectively.
     
  • Quadri gets nomination for 2016 ITTF Star Awards

    Quadri gets nomination for 2016 ITTF Star Awards

  • ITTF Africa honours Toriola

    ITTF Africa honours Toriola

    • Tasks players to emulate Nigerian star

    For his exemplary lifestyle on and off the table the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa has joined the league of those impressed with the feat achieved by Nigeria’s Segun Toriola at the Olympic Games as the first athlete to attend seven Olympics from the continent.

    At the colourful ceremony held during the ongoing ITTF Africa Senior Championships, Toriola who is the most decorated table tennis player in Africa was given a plaque by the President of ITTF Africa, Khaled El-Salhy assisted by a member of ITTF Africa Executive Board and the President of Morocco Table Tennis Federation, Monqid Hajji.

    According to ITTF Africa boss, it was the decision of the Executive Council of ITTF Africa to honour Toriola for putting the continent on the world map as the first athlete in any sports in Africa to feature in seven Olympic Games.

    “It was the decision of the Executive Council EC to give such award to Segun Toriola, who is a legend of Table Tennis not only in Africa but also in the World following his great achievement of being the first African to make seven appearances at the Olympic Games from 1992 to 2016. WE also we believe that he has the chance to break his own record by making it to Tokyo 2020, which the quality he still possesses,” El-Salhy said.

    For upcoming players, the ITTF Africa helmsman believes Toriola would serve as a role model for young players in Africa with his 100 per cent commitment to the sport on and off the table.

    “Toriola commitment to table tennis is 100 per cent and this is why he will remain an inspiration to young players in Africa. He is also an ambassador of Table Tennis when it comes to fair play. His excellent performance at every competition coupled with his humility are traits that singled him out among other players in Africa ,” El-Salhy added.

  • TIFF Ranking:Quadri to lead Nigerian players

    With just few days to the release of the September ranking by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), there are strong indications that Africa’s best player at the just concluded Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Aruna Quadri will spearhead Nigerian players’ improvement in the world rating.

    Quadri, ranked 40th in August caused two big upsets at the Rio Olympic Games after knocking out Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan 4-0 as well as Germany’s Boll Timo, 4-2 to seal a historic berth in the quarter finals of men’s single table tennis event.

      Also, seven-time Olympian, Segun Toriola also put up a good performance when he edged out Czech Republic’s Dmitrij Prokopcov 4-2 in the second round of the men’s singles.

    The Czech was rated 79th but he was shown the exit by Toriola, who was ranked 120 in the world. What would have been another big win for Toriola was thwarted by 22nd ranked Japan’s Niwa Koki in the third round with a 4-2 win.

      Despite their early exit in the first round, the duo of Olufunke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong will also get improved ranked after recording victory in their preliminary round of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

    When Nigerian players will be moving up the ranking, their counterparts from Egypt will be dropping after their surprised exit in Rio.

    Dina Meshref, Nadeen El-Dawlatly, Khaled Assar and the North African inspiration star, Omar Assar were shown the doors early in Rio.

    Aside from Omar Assar, the trio of Meshref, El-Dawlatly and Khaled played only one match to be bundled out of the tournament.

      Unlike his compatriots – Omar Assar fought his way into the second round after being beaten by Ukraine’s Lei Kou 4-3.

      Omar Assar may drop further in the latest ranking from his 55thranked place in August 2016.

  • 2016 Men’s World Cup: ITTF confirms Quadri

    2016 Men’s World Cup: ITTF confirms Quadri

    Rio 2016 Olympic Games quarterfinalist, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri will return to the country where his resurgence started in 2014, as the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has confirmed the Nigerian and 19 others for this year’s Men’s World Cup holding in Saarbrucken, which is the largest city in the state of Saarland Germany.

    Saarbrücken which is Saarland’s administrative, commercial and cultural centre will host the best 20 players in the world with Quadri flying African flag at the three-day tournament.

    Quadri, who returned to his base in Portugal at the weekend, will rub shoulders with top European stars as well as his conqueror in Brazil and Olympic Champion, China’s Ma Long.

    In the list of participants made available to NationSport yesterday by the world table tennis ruling body, Quadri – German fans favourite will return to the warm welcome in Germany where he berthed in the quarterfinal stage in the same tournament in 2014.

    The whole world will focus attention on the competition as most of the players have earned their place at the show piece event through Continental Cup qualification events throughout 2016, plus the current World Champion & a wildcard.

    China’s newly crowned Olympic Champion and Men’s World Cup defending Champion MA Long heads the invitation list as the reigning World Champion, together with 2013 Champion XU Xin (CHN), and three time champion, 40-year-old Vladimir SAMSONOV (BLR).

    World number five Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (GER) will lead the local German contingent in Saarbrucken alongside Bastin STEGER (GER), the man he won the Rio 2016 team bronze with.

    Jun MIZUTANI (JPN) who played the tournament of his life to win singles bronze and team silver at Rio 2016 will also be making the trip to Germany. MIZUTANI will be hoping to repeat his victory over XU Xin at Rio 2016 to bring home another medal to Japan.

    Based on his brilliant performance at Rio 2016, where he became extremely close to beating both Grand Slam Champions MA Long and ZHANG Jike (CHN), JEONG Youngsik (KOR) takes the wildcard place.