The Nation Newspaper

Tag: International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)

  • ITTF pledges support to Nigeria, others

    ITTF pledges support to Nigeria, others

    • As tournament ends

    With the progressed made by Nigeria and others in Africa, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has pledged its support to the continent just as the 2016 ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship ends today in Algiers.

    Impressed with the giant strides made by Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Egypt’s Omar Assar, ITTF President, Thomas Weikert that the performance of the stars has motivated the world table tennis ruling body to look towards Africa and see ways to assist them in developing the sport.

    The ITTF boss told NationSport during an exclusive interview at the weekend that Nigeria and Egypt have become what Germany and China are to the world table tennis in terms of their quality and efforts by their national associations at improving the fortune of the sport.

    “I must tell you that I am familiar with Nigerian players having played alongside the likes of Sunday Eboh, Thomas Ogunrinde and Titus Omotara as well as Olawunmi Majekodunmi, I knew their quality and with what Aruna Quadri is doing now, it shows that the national association is not relenting in its efforts to groom new players. Also Egypt is like the China of Africa with what they have achieved at the global level.

    “I think they just need to support other countries in the continent just like China is doing at global level. At ITTF we will continue to support Africa to grow the game as well as to engage more women in the development of the sport. As Nigeria and Egypt are the best playing nations in Africa, they must not look down on other nations but see how they can support them and that is where ITTF will not come in to aid the support,” Weikert said.

    The ITTF helmsman who watched the cadet boys final involving Nigeria and Egypt in Algiers believes with the quality of the youngsters, the future of the game in Africa is secured, while calling on other African nations to take a cue from Nigeria and Egypt.

    Meanwhile, the seven-day championship in Algiers will climax today with the finals of the singles event in U-21, junior and cadet categories.

  • Nigeria finishes second at ITTF Junior Circuit in Egypt

    Nigeria finishes second at ITTF Junior Circuit in Egypt

    With just four boys, Nigeria still made its presence felt at the ITTF Junior Circuit tagged Egypt Open after the West African giant finished second behind host – Egypt in the overall medal table.

    As the host – Egypt dominated the event claiming gold medals in the junior events while also sharing the gold with Nigeria and India in the cadet and mini-cadet events.

    In the junior team event, Egypt claimed gold in the boys and girls divisions while they also ruled in the singles and doubles.

    To be named the second overall best team, Nigeria inspired by Amadi Omeh claimed one gold and three silver medals to beat India to third place. India won one gold and one bronze medals.

    Egypt’s Marwan Abdelwahab and Mariam Abdelaziz won the respective Cadet Boys’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles titles. Meanwhile, Rinad Fathy and Eman Taha donned the Cadet Girls’ Doubles crown with Hend Fathy emerging as the winner if the Mini-Cadet Girls’ event.

    However, both the Mini-Cadet Boys’ Singles and the Cadet Boys’ Singles titles finished in the hands of visitors from foreign shores. India’s Payas Jain emerged as the Mini Cadet Boys’ Singles winner, Nigeria’s Amadi Omeh and Azeez Solanke secured the Cadet Boys’ Doubles crown.

    At the final hurdle, Payas Hain beat Abayomi Animasahun (9-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-9) in the one title deciding contest in the whole tournament that did not feature an Egyptian player.

    In the Cadet Boys’ Doubles competition Amadi Omeh and Azeez Solanke combined to secure success at the hands of the host nation’s Ammar Attia and Omar Elsafty (11-7, 8-11, 11-7, 11-4).

    Otherwise, it was success for Egypt with Marwan Abdelwahab adding to his Cadet Boys’ Team success secured earlier in the week and Mariam Abdelaziz progressing one step higher than her silver medal finish in the Cadet Girls’ Team competition.

    In events dominated by Egyptian players in the latter stages, Marwan Abdelwahab accounted for Ammar Attia (11-8, 7-11, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7) at the quarter-final stage, before securing his place in the final courtesy of success against Mazen Farouk (11-8, 11-8, 11-2).

    A place in the title deciding contest reserved, the top step of the podium was reserved but Marwan Abdelwahab came perilously close to defeat. He trailed Nigeria’s Azeez Solanke by two games to nil, won the third game by the very narrow of margins before gaining in confidence to secure victory (8-11, 7-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-7).

    In the opposite half of the draw Azeez Solanke had beaten Ahmed Elborhamy at the quarter-final stage (11-9, 12-14, 8-11, 11-5, 11-6), prior to ousting India’s Payas Jain (11-9, 11-9, 11-6), to reserve his place in the final.

    Tense moments for Marwan Abdelwahab; it was to some extent the same for Mariam Abdelaziz.

    At the quarter-final stage, she needed the full five games to beat Sara Elhakem, only emerging successful by the minimal two point margin in the deciding game (8-11, 11-5, 17-19, 11-9, 11-9). A semi-final place booked, she accounted for Waad Ibrahim (11-4, 11-7, 11-6) and Zeina Essam (11-5, 11-3, 13-11) to claim the title.

    Less problematic, at the quarter-final stage Zeina Essam has beaten Farida Badawy (12-10, 11-4, 11-6) before overcoming Waad Ibrahim to reserve her place in the final (11-4, 11-7, 11-6).

    Success for Egypt in the Cadet Boys’ Singles and Cadet Girls’ Singles events; also they enjoyed success in the Cadet Girls’ Doubles and Mini Cadet Boys’ Singles competitions.

  • ITTF honours Nigeria’s Segun

    ITTF honours Nigeria’s Segun

    To recognise his outstanding contribution to the table tennis globally, Nigeria’s George Segun is the only Africa honoured among the six awardees by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) with a Merit Award – the highest by the world tennis body.

    Segun, a former Executive, Vice President of ITTF was honoured during the ITTF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia alongside five other personalities in the world.

    Segun, a former President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and Ex-President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) and now Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee of ITTF was given the award alongside Khalil AL-MOHANNADI, Jean-Francois KAHN, Koji KIMURA, Zdenko KRIZ, and Tony YUE.

    Meanwhile, Budapest, Hungary has been awarded to host the 2019 World Table Tennis Championships as approved by the 2016 ITTF AGM.

    With this, the 55th edition of the world’s biggest table tennis event, will be held in the SYMA event hall in the Hungarian capital, a venue that last month was approved by top ITTF official as worthy of hosting the individual championships.

    ITTF’s President, Thomas WEIKERT stated: “This year’s AGM went very smoothly with positive discussion amongst the delegates representing 124 National Associations. Budapest presented a very impressive bid to the members, and I am confident that our Hungarian friends will put on a fantastic show for us in three years time.”

    Other significant news at the AGM was that the Chairman of the ITTF Athletes Commission was voted to be a full member on the ITTF Executive Committee (till now the Commission was represented with voting rights on the Board of Directors and without voting rights at the EC).

    Thanks to this decision, the ITTF Athletes’ Commission Chairman, Vladimir Samsonov could take his seat immediately in the ITTF Executive Committee as full member.

  • Quadri, Abiodun for ITTF World Tour in Hungary

    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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  • ITTF confirms Nigeria, others for World Championship

    ITTF confirms Nigeria, others for World Championship

    The world table tennis ruling body, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has confirmed Nigeria and 93 others for next month’s World Team Championships holding in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur from Sunday February 28 to Sunday March 6.

    Nigeria’s performance at the 2014 edition in Tokyo, Japan automatically qualified alongside its continental rival, Egypt as the only two nations from Africa that made it.

    However, Algeria, Congo Brazzaville, Congo DRC, Ghana, Morocco, Togo and Tunisia made the list of participants following their performance at the 2015 Africa Championship in Egypt.

    In the list of qualified countries confirmed by ITTF, over 74 countries will compete in the men’s event while 84 nations will battle for titles in the women’s cadre.

    Meanwhile, the Swaythling Cup and the Corbillon Cup at stake; China, the defending champions, occupies the top seeded positions in both the Men’s and Women’s events at the 2016 World Team Championships.

    In each of the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events there are four divisions. There are 24 outfits in each of the top three divisions; in Men’s Division Four, there are 22 teams, in Women’s Division Four, there are 12 teams.

    Teams in the Championship Division are seeded no.1 to no.24; in Division Two from no.25 to no.48, in Division Three from no.49 to no.72 and in Division Four from no.73 onwards.

    The teams that finished in the top 16 places at the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Team Championships in Tokyo are guaranteed a place in the Championship Division regardless of World Ranking.

    Meanwhile, the teams who finished in first and second places in the remaining divisions in Tokyo gain promotion to the next highest division.

    Teams promoted to the Championship Division are guaranteed a seeded position of no.23 and no.24 unless their current World Team ranking determines a higher place.

    The same principle applies to Division Two where the promoted teams are guaranteed a seeding of no.47 and no.48; also to Division Three where the minimal seeding is no.71 and no.72.
    Malaysia, as the hosts, has accepted the option of a place in the Championship Division in both the Men’s and Women’s events.
    England and Italy are the promoted outfits in the Men’s event, in the Women’s event it is Brazil and Sweden. The remaining places are allocated based on the current World Team ranking.

    Teams who finished in positions no.27 to no.40 at the ZEN-HOH 2014 World Team Championships receive an automatic place in Division Two, as do the teams who finished in places no.51 to no.64 in Division Three.

    Initially, in each event there are four groups with six teams in each group; teams finishing the first three places in each group progress to the main draw, teams finishing in the latter three places compete for the lower positions.

    Fixtures in the second stage are based on the knock-out principle.

    Seeding in every division is based on the World Team Ranking published for January 2016; the World Team Ranking for each national association is based on the three highest ranked players in that association named on the current Men’s and Women’s World Rankings.

    The draw for the Championship Division, Division Two and Division Three will take place at 3.00pm (local time) on Saturday 16th January at the Subang Grand Dorsett Hotel.

    Later, the draw for Division Four be conducted at 11.00am on Friday 26th February.

  • 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.

  • Quadri slumps, Toriola leaps in latest ITTF world ranking

    Quadri slumps, Toriola leaps in latest ITTF world ranking

    Despite making it to the final of the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville, Aruna Quadri slumped in the October ranking of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) while ageing Segun Toriola is among the players that leaped in their rating.

    Quadri, who made his debut yesterday in the French League dropped from 43 to 45 but still maintains his status as top 50 in the world.

    With his performance at the African Games, Quadri garnered 2270 points in October from the 2262 points he amassed in September, Quadri still plays second fiddle to Egypt’s Omar Assar who is now ranked 35 in the world from the 36 placed he was rated in September.

    Having being removed from the ranking following his inactivity in the last six months, Toriola made a triumph return to the world ranking as the former African champion is now ranked 167 in the world.

    Toriola’s giant stride was made possible following his 3-1 victory over Egypt’s Omar Assar in the men’s team final of the African Games.

    Meanwhile, wins over China’s Zhang Jike in both the Men’s Team and Men’s Singles events at the recent Suzuki 2015 ITTF-Asian Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, sees Korea’s Jang Woojin make the most dramatic rise on the Men’s World Rankings.

    The 20 year-old moves from a previous best of no 41 to a new career high of no.24, on a list that sees the very top remain the same.

    China Ma Long remains at the pinnacle for 38th time in his career, being followed immediately by colleagues Xu Xin, Fan Zhendong and Zhang Jike.

    Winner of the Men’s Singles event at the Liebherr 2015 ITTF-European Championships in Ekaterinburg, Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov retains his no.5 spot with Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Timo Boll, like Dimitrij Ovtcharov from Germany, once again the next in the order of merit.

    Immediately below Marcos Freitas climbs one place to no.8, changing positions with China’s Fang Fo; next on the list is Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan who changes places with Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus. Korea’s Jung Youngsik completes the top 12 moving two positions from his previous career high of no.14 one month ago.

    The upward trend for Jung Youngsik, it is the opposite for Japan’s Koki Niwa formerly at no.12, is now at no.14.