The sole Nigeria’s representative in the women singles event of the 2016 ITTF Africa Senior Championships, Olufunke Oshonaike on Saturday berthed in the last four after beating Egypt’s Amira Yousry 4-1.
A determined Oshonaike controlled the pace of the match from the start to the end without giving the African junior champion any breathing space. However, the young Egyptian made several attempts at pushing the game to Oshonaike, but experience was handy for the Nigerian to win the encounter at 4-1.
Despite the easy victory, a confident Oshonaike told NationSport after the match, “It was not an easy match because whenever you are playing against an Egyptian, you have to be very careful and I guess I played with a lot of experience. From the start of the match, I was so weak to lift myself but as it progresses I got into the game. I think in my next match against a possible Egyptian opponent will be better as I am getting back to my form,” Oshonaike said.
For Oshonaike’s semifinal opponent, Egypt’s ABDEL-AZIZ Farah, she hopes she can conquer the ageing Nigerian today. In the semifinal match against OSHONAIKE Olufunke, I have watched her played against my teammates – Dina Meshref and Nadeen El-Dawlatly and through that I have understood some of her game and I hope I can win against her being the first time I will be playing against her,” the Egyptian told NationSport.
Tag: ITTF
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ITTF Africa Senior Championships: Oshonaike qualifies for semifinal of singles
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ITTF World Cup: Toriola wants Quadri to win more titles
Despite the early exit of Aruna Quadri at the 2016 ITTF World Cup, seven time Olympian, Segun Toriola believes his performance in Germany was not that disappointing as he played against the best in the championship.
However, Toriola who remains the most decorated table tennis player in Africa, said the 2014 ITTF star player needs to win more titles to compliment his global rising profile.
“I am happy with the global profile of Aruna Quadri in the sport and this will surely help the growth of the game in Nigeria. But he needs to start winning titles in Africa and globally to help his career more. Winning titles is what matters in sports because this is what people will always want to associate with. There is no doubt that he has made a name for himself at international level as he becomes a force to be reckoned with in the world. This is good for Africa and Nigeria in particular,”Toriola said.
Toriola, who coached Quadri at the World Cup, however, praised his compatriot, saying, “Making it to the World Cup is no child’s play because only the best in the world compete in the tournament. So making it to Germany is another achievement on its own,” the Belgium-based erstwhile African champion added.
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Quadri tunes up for ITTF World Cup with French league
As the continent’s flag-bearer at the forthcoming the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup, Aruna Quadri hopes to use his involvement in Monday’s French league tie away to Angers Vaillante as warm up to the global championship in Germany next month.
After leading Jura Morez to one loss and a win in the prestigious French elite league, Quadri is expected to spearhead his team against the Sweden’s Jon Persson-captained side.
With four points from two league matches, Jura Morez will have their hands full when they battle the trio of Persson, Belgium’s Jens Lundqvist and France’s Christophe Legout in today’s exciting tie.
With just few days to the ITTF World Cup in the city of Saarbrucken, Germany, Quadri believes his involvement in the top flight league serves as preparation for the tournament.
“There is no doubt that playing in the French league will put me in top shape for the World Cup and I am also training well personally to ensure I make a lot of impact in Germany. I know all eyes will be on based on my performance at the Rio Olympic Games, but I am also aiming to do better than what I did in 2014. I hope and pray that I get a good draw in Germany. I am also hoping that the German fans can also support me just like they did in 2014 when I got to the quarterfinal stage of the competition,” Quadri said.
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Olympic tennis: Quadri to set another world record
With his performance at the last Rio 2016 Olympic Games, African champion, Aruna Quadri will be setting another world ranking record when the September ITTF rating is released this weekend.
The Nigerian in 2014 became the first African to make the top 30 in the world following his scintillating performance at the 2014 ITTF World Cup where he made it to the quarterfinal stage.
And with his heroic feat in Rio, the Oyo State-born star is already the toast of fans across the world following his quarterfinal berth in Brazil where he defeated some of the top players in the world including former world number one, Germany’s Timo Boll.
However, a partial ranking released after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by the world table tennis ruling body, the Nigerian ranked 40thprior to the Olympic Games in Brazil has moved to 25th in the world as the first African to achieve such feat.
The partial ranking was based on the points he garnered in Rio but there are indications that he may move higher when the September rating is made public this weekend.
Meanwhile, Aruna Quadri’s continental rival, Egypt’s Omar Assar continued his free-fall in the partial rating as the former African champion dropped to 56 from 55 following his second round exit in Rio.
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Portugal leads 14 countries to ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open
European champion, Portugal will lead 15 other countries across the globe to this year’s ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open (Lagos 2016) serving off May 18 to 22 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
Seven players made up of five male and two female including women’s singles defending champion, 22 year-old Jieni Shao will champion the campaign for the European giant against top players from Russia, Hungary, Egypt, Finland, Slovakia, Romania, Iran, Mexico, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, Morocco, Tunisia, Congo DRC and Cameroun.
Already, 122 players have been listed for the tournament, which has been described by the Competition Manager, Mohammed Dawlatly has encouraging.
“Although it might not be as high as the organizers wanted but still it is better from last year as we now have 122 players from 16 countries compare to 81 players from 11 countries in 2015 which means players are now more interested to attend this important event,” the ITTF official said.
Also listed for the tournament is two-time winner of the ITTF World Tour and Hungary’s most success table tennis star, Hungary’s Szandra Pergel. The Hungarian will be hoping to wrestle for the title against Nigeria’s duo of Edem Offiong and Olufunke Oshonaike.
In the men’s singles, home-boy, Aruna Quadri will have his hand full when he battles against top players from Europe as well his Egyptian rivals.
“As the highest prize money in the Challenge Series of the ITTF World Tour, more players are now willing to be part of the competition in Lagos. Apart from aiming to share from the prize money, they intend to use the championship to amass points for their world ranking as well as qualify for the end-of-year ITTF World Tour Finals. We are indeed excited about the turnout and we hope this year will be more competitive and glamorous based on the quality of the players coming to Lagos,” Ranti Olajide said.
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Media accreditation opens for ITTF Nigerian Open
The media accreditation for the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour tagged Nigerian Open begins across the country.
Intending journalists and media houses willing to cover the five-day championship are expected to send their names and medium to nigeriattf@gmail.com. The deadline for registration has been fixed for May 10.
According to the organisers – Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), this year’s tournament promises to be exciting as top players from Africa and Europe have confirmed their participation in the highest-paid Challenge series in the ITTF World Tour calendar.
According to ITTF Director of Competition, Karl Jindrak, the Nigerian Open is one of the Challenge Series tournaments in the ITTF calendar, and it holds on May 18 to 22 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Participants will jostle for $46,000 (N13.8m) this year while defending champion, Egypt’s Omar Assar will be making a return to Lagos after the disappointing defeat he suffered against Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri at the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Khartoum, Sudan.
Also, other top players from Egypt who have been part of the championship in the last three years are expected to return to Lagos in their bid to sweep the prize money.
Six events have been listed by the world table tennis ruling body and they are singles (men and women); doubles (men and women) as well as U-21 boys and girls.
There are indications that top players from Europe and Asia will be gracing this year’s tournament as part of their efforts to garner world ranking points as well as make it to the end-of-the-year ITTF World Tour Finals.
According to the prospectus for the tournament, any player entering for the tournament will agree to abide by all ITTF rules and by the rules and regulations of the Organising Committee.
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ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship: Nigeria berths in semi-final, battle Tunisia, Algeria
Nigeria yesterday restored its chances of making it to the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship after the boys and girls teams secured their places in the semifinal round in the ongoing ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship.
The boys’ team was merciless against host – Algeria with a 3-0 bashing while the girls team was made to work hard for their 3-2 victory over Tunisia to qualify for the last four of the championship.
For the semi-final paring, Nigeria male team will battle against Tunisia while the girls will face a Herculean task when they face Algeria today in the semi-final.
The unseeded Nigerian teams surprised many in Algiers after their absence at the last tournament in Mauritius caused them not to be seeded for the tournament.
But with the way the teams have played so far, it was obvious that their absence in 2015 gave the likes of Algeria and Tunisia to be considered as favourites alongside top seed, Egypt in all the events.
An excited Ajoke Ojomu told SportingLife after the hard-fought 3-2 win over Tunisia that they knew they had to win the match as their presence in Algiers would only be justified if they are able to pick one of the three slots available for Africa at the World Championship.
“We never gave up even when they were leading us 2-1. We told ourselves that we must fight and I am happy that my teammates fought well and this was what aided our victory. We will not relax because we know that Algeria will be relying on home support but we will surely give our best against them in the semi-final. Our mission is not complete until we pick one of the three slots for the World Championship,” Ojomu said.
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Quadri leads Nigeria’s rise in ITTF ranking
• Egypt below Nigeria in team rating
Aruna Quadri made another giant stride in the latest ITTF ranking to lead Nigeria’s rise in the world rating released by the world table tennis ruling body.
Quadri remains the best player from the continent for the second time in the last two months, as the 2014 ITTF Star Player improved his world rating from 30 to 29 in the April ranking in the men.
Also, former African champion and intending seventh time Olympian, Segun Toriola gains more points to move to 109 from 117, while Bode Abiodun also improved to 179 from 185.
However, former African champion and Egyptian inspirational star, Omar Assar continued to slide in the world rating as the 2015 African Games champion dropped from 36 to 37 in the latest rating.
In the women rating, Egypt’s Dina Meshref continued to lead the continent despite dropping from 97 to 98.
The highest rated female Nigerian player is Edem Offiong who remains fourth in the continent despite improving from 242 to 230 in the world, while Olufunke Oshonaike who was ranked 235 has been taken off the ranking due to inactivity in the last six months. In the Olympic Team ranking, Nigeria continued to dominate Egypt in the men’s rating despiting dropping from 25 to 26 in the world.
Egypt were unmoved in the ranking as they are still rooted in the 32nd place in the world.
In the women team rating, Egypt is still ahead of Nigeria having occupied 31 in the world while Nigeria is 40th.
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Quadri leads Nigeria’s rise in ITTF ranking
- Egypt below Nigeria in team rating
Aruna Quadri made another giant stride in the latest ITTF ranking to lead Nigeria’s rise in the world rating released by the world table tennis ruling body.
Quadri remains the best player from the continent for the second time in the last two months, as the 2014 ITTF Star Player improved his world rating from 30 to 29 in the April ranking in the men.
Also, former African champion and intending seventh time Olympian, Segun Toriola gains more points to move to 109 from 117, while Bode Abiodun also improved to 179 from 185.
However, former African champion and Egyptian inspirational star, Omar Assar continued to slide in the world rating as the 2015 African Games champion dropped from 36 to 37 in the latest rating.
In the women rating, Egypt’s Dina Meshref continued to lead the continent despite dropping from 97 to 98.
The highest rated female Nigerian player is Edem Offiong who remains fourth in the continent despite improving from 242 to 230 in the world, while Olfunke Oshonaike who was ranked 235 has been taken off the ranking due to inactivity in the last six months.
In the Olympic Team ranking, Nigeria continued to dominate Egypt in the men’s rating despiting dropping from 25 to 26 in the world.
Egypt were unmoved in the ranking as they are still rooted in the 32nd place in the world.
In the women team rating, Egypt is still ahead of Nigeria having occupied 31 in the world while Nigeria is 40th.
This development has put Nigeria’s men team ahead of Egypt in the final team qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic while the Egyptians have automatically made it to Brazil in the women cadre.
Meanwhile, China’s Ma Long retains his position at the head of the Men’s World Rankings despite finishing second behind compatriot, Zhan Jike at the Kuwait Open.
It is the 14th consecutive publication that has seen the 27 year-old head the list, since regaining the coveted position in March 2015 at the expense of colleague, Xu Xin.
Overall it is the 44th time that Ma Long has appeared in top spot, a position he first secured in January 2010.
In the women world rating, China’s Li Xiaoxia is the player to make the most notable progress amongst the elite names on the Rankings.
The 28 year old reigning Olympic champion moves from no.8 to no.5 on a list where the names immediately above retain their positions; colleagues Liu Shiwen, Ding Ning and Zhu Yuling once again occupy the respective top three places with Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa next in line.
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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.