The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ITTF

  • ITTF lists Lagos World Tour for March

    The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has listed Lagos World Tour among the challenge series and it will hold betweenMarch 10 to 14.

    In the prospectus released by the world table tennis governing body, the prize money for the Lagos Tour has also been hiked to $46,000 (N8.3m) while six events will be jostled for by players across the globe.

    The events – Men’s single, women’s single, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, U-21 boys’ singles and U-21 girls’ singles.

    The Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium will host the five-day tournament while the final entry for the tournament has been fixed for February 18.

    Algeria’s Nabil Almamoon has been named as the referee while his compatriot, Mounir Bessah is the competition manager.

    It stated: “According to the 2015 Directives and SSI for World Tour, we have to limit the number of entries to players in total. Only the final entries are taken into consideration by the organisers and the Competition Manager for the participation of your players. An association can enter a maximum of 24 direct entries (six players by category: MS, WS, U21 boys and U-21 girls). If no U-21 event is played an association can enter a maximum of 12 direct entries. The host association can enter a maximum of 48 direct entries (12 players by category: MS, WS, U21 boys and U-21 girls).”

    “If no U-21 event is played the host association can enter a maximum of 24 direct entries. No association can have more than six players entered in the doubles event except the host association (12 players) if the Doubles event is played at this tournament. The additional entries will be put on a waiting list and accepted depending on the total number of entries,” the prospectus said.

  • Quadri wins Mediterranean Club Championship with GD Toledos

    Quadri wins Mediterranean Club Championship with GD Toledos

    As part of his build-up to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup scheduled for next week in Germany, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri was instrumental to GD Toledos’ triumph at the 2014 Mediterranean club championship held in Istanbul, Turkey.

    Twelve teams drawn from Tunisia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, France, Lebanon and Turkey were pitched against one another in groups.

    The teams were drawn into four groups of four each with the top teams in each expected to progress to the semifinal stage of the competition.

    Quadri and his teammates – Andre Silva and Diogo Silva – were pitched against teams from Tunisia and Slovenia.

    It was easy for Quadri and his mates to emerge from the group as the top team as they pounded the teams 3-0 apiece.

    In the semifinal tie, they were expected to face France’s Sporting Union which has former world number 30, Liu Song.

    Before the encounter, Quadri’s team had been written off by the fans but to the chagrin of the spectators, GD Toledos shocked the French side 3-0 to set up a final clash against a Croatian side.

    Narrating how the final match went, the Oyo State-born player said: “Andre Silva started the match and he won against Chinese-born Zheng Jen in a convincing encounter that ended 3-1 for my team to take a 1-0 lead. I took on Kolarek Tomislave in the second match and I accounted for the defeat of the Croat when I won 3-1 to increase the lead to 2-0. Unfortunately, Diogo Silva could not cope against his opponent in the third match but he lost 3-0 to put the game at 2-1. In the deciding match, I defeated Jen to ensure that my team was crowned the champion of Mediterranean.”

    The African champion added: “It was great to be in Turkey as part of my preparation for the ITTF World Cup next week as I had led my team to the third round of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) Cup in Luxembourg, where we are expected to tackle a French team in our next match of the competition

  • Quadri wins Mediterranean Club Championship with GD Toledos

    Quadri wins Mediterranean Club Championship with GD Toledos

    As part of his build-up to the International  Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup scheduled for next week in Germany, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri was instrumental to GD Toledos’ triumph at the 2014 Mediterranean club championship held in Istanbul, Turkey.

    Twelve teams drawn from Tunisia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, France, Lebanon and Turkey were pitched against one another in groups.

    The teams were drawn into four groups of four each with the top teams in each expected to progress to the semifinal stage of the competition.

    Quadri and his teammates – Andre Silva and Diogo Silva – were pitched against teams from Tunisia and Slovenia.

    It was easy for Quadri and his mates to emerge from the group as the top team as they pounded the teams 3-0 apiece.

    In the semifinal tie, they were expected to face France’s Sporting Union which has former world number 30, Liu Song.

    Before the encounter, Quadri’s team had been written off by the fans but to the chagrin of the spectators, GD Toledos shocked the French side 3-0 to set up a final clash against a Croatian side.

    Narrating how the final match went, the Oyo State-born player said: “Andre Silva started the match and he won against Chinese-born Zheng Jen in a convincing encounter that ended 3-1 for my team to take a 1-0 lead. I took on Kolarek Tomislave in the second match and I accounted for the defeat of the Croat when I won 3-1 to increase the lead to 2-0. Unfortunately, Diogo Silva could not cope against his opponent in the third match but he lost 3-0 to put the game at 2-1. In the deciding match, I defeated Jen to ensure that my team was crowned the champion of Mediterranean.”

    The African champion added: “It was great to be in Turkey as part of my preparation for the ITTF World Cup next week as I had led my team to the third round of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) Cup in Luxembourg, where we are expected to tackle a French team in our next match of the competition

  • QUADRI FEARS NO FOE AT ITTF WORLD CUP

    QUADRI FEARS NO FOE AT ITTF WORLD CUP

    Despite the pedigree of players already listed for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup scheduled for this month in Germany, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri believes he will not be intimidated by anyone’s rating.

    The Portugal-based player told SportingLife yesterday that he was aware of the task ahead of him in Germany, and he would be ready for the challenge against the world’s best.

    “It is true that the players listed for the World Cup posses qualities but that does not mean I cannot withstand their level. I seriously believe that I can still do better than what I achieved during the 2009 edition in Moscow, Russia. In the line-up of the players listed for the championship are two players ranked among the top 30 in the world and I defeated them last month at the Czech Open. With this kind of success I think better days are ahead for me at the World Cup,” he said.

    The world number 73 ranked player added: “I am not going to be intimidated by their ranking as I believe that ranking means participating regularly in tournaments. I know it is not going to be a walk-over for me because I need to give 100 percent in all my matches in Germany.”

    Quadri, who is expected to lead his Portuguese club – GD Toledos to the knockout stage of the European Table Tennis Cup (ETTU) in Luxembourg, believes with the number of matches he would be playing at the ETTU Cup, he would be in good shape for the World Cup.

    “I am prepared for the competition in Germany because I have stopped playing in tournaments for two weeks now in order to rest well before the World Cup. I will commence my build up to the tournament in Luxembourg, with the second round of the ETTU Cup, where we are to compete against four teams in the group with one team expected to qualify to the third round. I will be playing six tough matches and I think it is going to get me more ready for the World Cup,” he said.

    Continuing he explained, “By upper weekend, my club will also be participating in the Mediterranean Championship taking place in Istanbul, Turkey. Over 16 teams will be playing in the competition and I will be playing from the beginning to the end for my team. I am going to play at least 16 to 10 tough matches and with all these, I should be able to be fully ready for the World Cup.”

    On his target in Germany, Quadri said: “My primary objective is to surpass my previous World Cup record and also to qualify from the group stage. If I qualify from the group stage, I seriously believe I can cause an upset in the knockout stage and in the main draw nobody knows what might happen. It is possible for me to make it to the knockout stage and if I am lucky and God is on my side during the tournament, making it to the quarterfinal is possible also. I think I have equal chances with all the players in the group stage.”

  • SEPTEMBER ITTF RANKING: Quadri jumps from 111 to 73

    SEPTEMBER ITTF RANKING: Quadri jumps from 111 to 73

    From being ranked 257 in February this year, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri became the biggest mover in September’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) ranking as the African champion is now rated 73rd in the world.

    In August, Quadri was listed as one of the active players by the ITTF and, as if that was not enough, the Oyo State-born player ranked 111, caused two major upsets at the last Czech Open when he defeated the world’s number 24 and 38 to make it to the last eight of the championship.

    Quadri, the first Nigerian to achieve such feat in an ITTF Pro Tour, moved from 111 to be rated 73rd in the world following the release of the September ranking by the world’s table tennis ruling body.

    For this feat, Quadri is now the second highly rated African player in the world behind Egypt’s Omar Assar, who is in the top 70. At the Czech Open, Assar failed to make it beyond the second round (round of 32) while Quadri made it to the quarterfinal of the competition where he was edged out by the eventual runner up of the tournament, Germany’s Patrick Baum.

    According to ITTF Publication Director, Ian Marshall, Frenchman Simon Gauzy, Spain’s He Zhiwen, Russia’s Kirill Skachkov and the Slovak Republic’s Wang Yang made progress in the September ranking following their Czech Republic excursion but none can match Nigeria’s Quadri.

    “Kirill Skachkov moves from no.73 to no.63 and Simon Gauzy from no.88 to no.65; whilst He Zhiwen advances from no.92 to no.79 and Wang Yang from no.108 to no.93.

    However, compared with Quadri they are minor moves; the 26-year-old Nigerian advances from a previous best of number 111 to 73, following his Men’s Singles quarter-final appearance,” Marshall said.

    For the president, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, Quadri’s recent performances did not come on a platter, as he remains one of the of most disciplined and hardworking players that the country has had in recent times.

    “I am not surprised that Quadri is doing well in recent times, he has always been a very disciplined and hardworking player who just needs to be supported.

    “For us, it is a good one for the country, as the federation would continue to support the players in their quest to progress in their career. We are proud of what Quadri has done and will still do and we hope sponsors will avail themselves the opportunity to support the player in his quest to make it to the zenith of the game in the world,” Oshodi said.

  • Mixed fortunes for Nigeria

    Mixed fortunes for Nigeria

    • As female team records first win

    The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on Tuesday acknowledged the outstanding performance of the Nigeria male team at the ongoing 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championship after the Segun Toriola-captained side defeated highly rated Belgium team in the competition.

    Also on Tuesday, the female team led by Funke Oshonaike recorded their first win of the tournament against Italy in their third group game of Group G.

    On Monday, the Nigeria men’s team had walloped Indonesia 3-0 while on Tuesday; they did the impossible against the Belgian side.

    In Group E, Nigeria beat Belgium 3-1 with Aruna Quadri being the man of the moment while Ojo Onaolapo played a vital supporting role in the victory. Quadri started the onslaught for Nigeria when he beat Belgium’s Yannick Vostes 5-11, 2-11, 13-11, 11-7, 11-7 and Cédric Nyutinck 11-8, 2-11, 11-4, 2-11, 11-9; while Onaolapo accounted for Florent Lambiet 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7, 11-3. Cédric Nyutinck, recorded the only success for Belgium in the second match of the fixture, when he overcame

    Toriola 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-2.

    “I am really happy that we were able to beat Belgium, because we knew how good they are”, said Toriola who now combines coaching with playing.

    “We expected Jean-Michel Saive to be playing but instead they opted for young Cédric Nyutinck who really surprised us, he beat me, a good tactical choice by Belgium, because they know I’ve played Saive many times and I know his game inside out”, added Segun Toriola.

    “Besides playing, I am also active as a coach and I am very happy with the fact that we’ve brought young players to Tokyo like Quadri and Onaolapo. They have a really good potential and after I finish my career, I want to coach them and bring them to a high level”, continued Toriola.

    “In Nigeria table tennis is very popular but we don’t get much support from the government, which favours football and that is why it’s very difficult to keep young players motivated.”

    For the women’s team the triumph over Italy was a revenge of what the Italian did to the team in 2012.

    Since the commencement of the tournament on Monday, the Nigerian ladies have lost to India 3-1 and Bulgaria 3-1. But the needed victory came against the Italians when Edem Offiong defeated Debora Vivarelli 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 4-11 and Oshonaike increased the tally with another 3-0 bashing of Lisa Ridolfi. But Cecilia Otu-Akpan was unlucky against Chiara Colantoni when she lost 3-2.

    To make the victory certain for Nigeria, Oshonaike fought well against Vivarelli to win 3-2 to give Nigeria an overall 3-1 win. However, the unbeaten run of the Nigerian male team came to an end on

    Tuesday when the team was defeated 3-0 by the division two number one seed team, Czech Republic.

  • ITTF World Junior Championships: Nigeria now 15th in the world

    ITTF World Junior Championships: Nigeria now 15th in the world

    Nigeria now 15 in the world after beating Australia in the final match of the team event at the ongoing ITTF World Junior Championships.

    Nigeria versus Australia results are as follows: Azeez Ogunlade lost to Ivan Sulfaro 11-7, 3-11, 8-11, 5-11. Olajide Omotayo beat Jake Duffy 11-5, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8 Olasunkanmi Oginni beat Yang Shen 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 and Olajide Omotayo beat Ivan Sulfaro 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 to help Nigeria to finish 15th in the world.

    Nigeria is now ahead of Egypt in Africa and in the world.

  • ITTF Hopes Week programme: Our gains, by players, coaches

    ITTF Hopes Week programme: Our gains, by players, coaches

    There is no doubt that the participants at the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Hopes week training programme believe the exercise has improved their knowledge of the game.

    In the last six days, the U-13 players drawn from nine states across the country as well as six coaches have been tutored by the ITTF instructor, Papic Dejan, with the aim of improving the skills and knowledge of the participants.

    Nine-year-old Zeinab Surmer, could not hide her excitement, as she admitted that the training has broadened her knowledge of the game, which she said would help her to be a better player.

    “I am happy to be part of the programme because it has been worthwhile in the last seven days. Aside the conducive environment, we have been taught a lot of things by the coaches. As a player, I now know that jogging and physical exercise is key to my performance in any competition. Also, my backhand and forehand are now better and I will continue to work on them so I can become a better player,” she said.

    Also, 12-year-old Mary Simon, who travelled from Adamawa, said the experience and knowledge she acquire would remain with her forever.

    “I now know that backhand is very important for me because I have been used to forehand but with the training, my backhand has improved and I will continue to work on it when I get back to my base. I also made new friends from other parts of Nigeria. This for me is what I will cherish in life,” she said.

    However, 10-year-old Abayomi Animasaun, who recently won the cadet division of a national tournament, playing with backhand regularly now remains a habit he would imbibe.

    “I think for me playing well with backhand is one skill I know I was lacking before the training. But with this exercise, I want to say that I am not going to stop playing regularly with backhand while I will also work on my forehand,” he added.

    Two of the coaches, Olubode Ajayi and Ifeoma Isaac lauded the initiative, saying this would surely help the country to identify and nurture world-beaters in the game.

    Ajayi, who unearthed one of Nigeria’s junior sensation, Esther Tosin Oribamishe, praised ITTF as well as Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), saying he was a product of such programme staged two decades ago in Nigeria.

    “I was part this programme 20 years ago and with the new skills acquired in this training exercise, I want to go back to my base and replicate everything I had learnt. We are grateful to ITTF and NTTF for ensuring that this programme is staged in Nigeria this year and I hope Nigeria will be better for it in the game,” Ajayi said.