The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF)

  • Bello rules NTTF National Women Singles Open Championship

    Seventy-two hours after emerging as champion at the All African games trial, Fatimo Bello showed her quality to dominate the maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Women Singles Open Championship concluded at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    She fought her way into the final brushing aside the likes of national player, Cecilia Otu-Akpan as well as returnee Ganiat Aruna to set up a final clash against former junior champion – Tosim Oribamise.

    Despite not having the chance to compete in international tournaments like her opponent in the final – Oribamise, Bello made nonsense of the experience of her opponent.

    Oribamise who is considered to be Nigeria’s most travelled and experienced player in recent times, was no match to Bello who thrashed the Ekiti State-born Oribamise 4-0 (11 -7, 11-6, 11-8, 11-4) to cart home the N200,000 star prize money.

    An excited Bello said she is determined to make the Nigeria team to the 2019 All Africa Games in Morocco.

    “I’m very happy and excited about the victory. This is going to help me a lot because I won’t stop training and continue to work hard. Training is the key to my success and hopeful I will continue to win. I actually started training two months ago for the trials and this Women Singles championship and I was expecting to win, so it is not something surprising. As the first winner of this tournament which means I’m one of the best players in Nigeria, I will like to play abroad and do all my possible best if I get the opportunity. I’m looking forward to play for the National team and excel with the team,” she said.

    Read Also: NTTF names team for WJC, AJCC in Ghana

    The tournament sponsored by the NTTF President, Engineer Ishaku Tikon was to rate female players and select team for major championships and the NTTF boss admitted that the objectives of the tournament was achieved.

    “We have gotten the result of why we staged the competition. A new queen has emerged and the line-up according to their ranking have also been established, we are good to go and we are prepared to conquer Africa and we are on our way to dominate table tennis in the region,” Tikon said.

    For the former President of NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, the performance of the players was encouraging and with constant training and regular competitions, the players would be ready to compete with the best.

  • NTTF Championship: Men’s champion crashes out

    NTTF Championship: Men’s champion crashes out

    Sola Oyetayo, men’s singles event title holder at the ongoing Nigeria Table Tennis Federation ( NTTF ) National Championship, on Friday crashed out of the competition holding at the National Stadium in Lagos.

    Timothy Olatunji from Oyo state put up a brilliant performance to defeat Oyetayo 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 in the round of 32.

    Olatunji told pressmen that it was an unexpected victory for him, noting that his opponent was a more experienced player in comparison with him.

    “I was not that confident going into the match, but after winning the first set, I summoned courage within me and I did my best all through the remaining sets.

    “I am really happy and I hope to scale through the round of 16,” he said.

    Read also: NTTF boss vows to continue Oshodi’s legacy

    On his part, Oyetayo  said crashing out of the NTTF championship at the early stage was painful.

    “I never expected that I will crash out of the championship in the round of 32. But winning and losing is part of competition,” he said.

    In other matches played, Opawole Oluwaseun of Rivers defeated state rival Rukayat Lawal 4-2 in the women’s para-table tennis singles.

    Also, Ajarat Abdulmumeen from Kwara defeated Ifeona Ezurike from Delta in four straight sets.

    The NTTF championship which began on Monday will end tomorrow.

    NAN

  • NTTF championships: 300 players begin hostilities

    NTTF championships: 300 players begin hostilities

    The Indoor Hall of the National Stadium was on Tuesday ignited as over 300 players across the country begin the race for titles and cast rewards at the maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championships.

    With 18 titles at stake at the five-day N2.8m prize money championship, the team event kick-started the competition.

    20 female teams and over 40 male teams will jostle for honours in the event while the para and junior, as well as cadet events, will begin today at the National Training Centre.

    According to the competition manager, John Peters, the turn-out of players and teams would be the biggest in the last three years as some of the retired players are also taking part in the championship.

     Among the ageing players rubbing shoulders with the young ones is Taofeek Maya, who was a former African champion in the 1990s.

    Maya, who recently won a tournament in Gabon told NationSports that he hopes to use the championship to inspire the junior players. “I am more than 50 years of age but I can tell you that there is no age barrier in table tennis and that is why Segun Toriola can still be competing with the continent and world best in major competitions. For me, table tennis is my life and I am enjoying every moment.

    I hope to make a statement with my performance in this competition. I must also commend the NTTF under the leadership of Wahid Oshodi for restoring the glory of the sport. Now table tennis is now getting popular as it used to be in the 1990s. I am happy that I am part of this resurgence,” May said.

  • NTTF unveils prize money for National Championships

    NTTF unveils prize money for National Championships

    As players look forward to the commencement of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championships, the organisers have unveiled the mouth-watering prize money for the tournament.

    The total prize money for the tournament is N2.8m with the cash reward for the singles event pegged at N1.12m with winners in the men and women singles events carting home N200,000 each.

    There will also be cash reward for cadet and junior players in the doubles, singles and team events, while para athletes and veterans will also be part of the largesse.

    According to the Secretary General of NTTF, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, the prize money is aimed to make the tournament more competitive and reward the efforts of the players.

    “We have decided to make the prize money attractive for the players because this is another way to reward excellence from the players. We believe that this will make the championship competitive and encourage the players to give their best in all their matches. Apart from this, it will afford some players the opportunity to catch the attention of the national team handlers as this is a platform for the federation to discover new players for the national teams at cadet, junior and senior levels,” she said.

    The scribe, however, said that the draws for the team event holds on Monday November 14, while the championship serves off on Tuesday as teams are expected to be arriving from their various bases this weekend.

    The Indoor Hall of the National Stadium and the National Training Centre will host the five-day championship with the grand finale scheduled for Saturday November 19.

  • NTTF: Registration deadline looms as teams brace up

    NTTF: Registration deadline looms as teams brace up

    Barring any last minute change, time is ticking on the maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF)-organised National Championships as teams have started shaping up for the competition scheduled to serve off on November 15.

    Teams like Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Ogun states are at present, rounding up their preparations for the competition after they have also confirmed their participation at the championship, as registration deadline looms for the five-day tournament.

    For the Secretary General of NTTF, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, teams like Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Ogun have all finalised their registration for the competition, while the final entry for the championship has been fixed for November 7.

    “We have already round off the first deadline on October 31 and while teams that failed to meet up with the deadline have been given the opportunity to register but they are expected to fail the fine for not meeting up with the first deadline. However, she said November 7 is the final entry of all the teams, adding that any team that fail to meet the date will not be allowed to be part of the championship,” she said.

    She, however, said the federation would want to finalise the arrangement for the kick-off of the championship on November 15 with mouthwatering prize money at stake at the tournament scheduled to hold at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium as well as the National Training Centre. 18 titles are expected to be battled for at the six-day championship.

    For the tournament director, John Peters, the championship is aimed at complementing the efforts of the federation at unearthing talents, as well as keeps the local players active for major competitions within and outside the country.

  • Registration begins for NTTF national championship

    Registration begins for NTTF national championship

  • NTTF national championships to ignite Lagos

    NTTF national championships to ignite Lagos

    Lagos National Stadium will come alive in November as hundreds of players across the country are expected to battle for the 18 titles at stake at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) national championships.

    As table tennis action returns to the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium, the six-day championship is expected to throw up talents for the country with senior, junior, cadet, para and veteran expected to compete for the diadems at stake.

    The tournament director, John Peters, said singles and doubles events would be part of the tournament while singles events will be the major event in all the categories.

    “This is another opportunity for our players to showcase their skills as well as play themselves into the national teams. After the performance of Aruna Quadri at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, it is clear to us that with more efforts we can produce more Quadri that will stun the world. This national championship is another platform that our players have to prove their mettle and we are set to ensure that it is of high standard. Also, we are adding that para events in order to give more of the special athletes to exhibit their talents so that we can have more of them making it to the Paralympic Games,” Peters said.

    Peters, who was one of the umpires that handled proceedings at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, said that that deadline for registration of teams and players for the championship is scheduled for October 31while the championship holds on November 15 to 19.

    According to the President of NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, the tournament is meant to complement efforts being made by the Federation to unearth talents as well as engage the players in order to keep them active for major competitions.

  • I’m not done with national team – Toriola

    I’m not done with national team – Toriola

    • Targets Tokyo 2020

    The first African to feature in seven Olympic Games, Segun Toriola believes he still a lot to offer in terms of his experience.

    The former African champion told NationSport on Monday in Lagos that his decision to continue with the national team was based on his passion for the sport that has brought him fame and fortune.

    “I think I can still continue playing for the national team because this is all I know how to do. Table tennis is my passion and I cannot be specific on when I would stop playing because my body can still carry me. I might be old in terms of age but when it comes to the game I am active. The motivation of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) coupled with the need to support the upcoming players is some of the things that inspired me to continue playing the game,” Toriola said.

    However, Toriola is hoping to be part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. “I am still one of the best in my sport despite my age and my consistency in table tennis which sees me playing in two top regular clubs in Europe would remain an added advantage for me as I continue to play in world class competitions,” said Toriola.

    He added: ““Being 42 years old is one thing-being fit enough to continue playing top table tennis is another.” He continued, “I am very discipline and I religiously follow the things that will continue to aid my fitness in the game. Come Tokyo 2020, I will still be good to represent Nigeria in top grade international competitions until after the Tokyo Olympics.”

    It would be recalled that Toriola was one of the stars at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as the Nigerian was honoured by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) for his feat as the first table tennis and African athlete to compete at seven Olympic Games.

     

  • ITTF world juniors: NTTF to unveil team this week

    ITTF world juniors: NTTF to unveil team this week

    The team that will represent Nigeria at the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship in South Africa will be unveiled after days of rigorous training cum trails expected to be concluded this week.

    The 18 players in camp are expected to fight for shirts in the ten-man team that will fly the country’s flag at the global tournament.

    According to the coordinator of the camping exercise, Segun Toriola, the players have continued to give their best in order to be part of the team, adding that the final list would be made known this week.

    “There is no doubt that the players are eager to be part of the team to the tournament in South Africa and I am really impressed with the performance of the players in camp and I am hoping that we will select the best for the country. However, we will organise trial for them to pick the best hands and this will be our yardstick to name the team,” he said.

    However, some of the players in camp include Amadi Umeh, Abayomi Animasahun and Azeez Solanke, believe they cannot afford to miss their places in the team having been part of the team to Algiers where the team picked a spot to the global tournament.

    The invited players were part of the team that featured at the ITTF African Junior Championship in Algiers where they qualified for the World Juniors, while outstanding players from the National U-16 tournament also made it to the camp.

    For the President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, the camp becomes necessary as some of the players would tutor on the latest rudiment of the sport. “The selected players will later go into close camping before the championship in November and they will continue to train in readiness for the competition. Segun Toriola will surely depart to his base after the camping and we hope the coaches around can continue to sharpen the skills of the players before the tournament which has Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria and Tunisia representing Africa in Cape Town, South Africa.”

  • ITTF World Juniors: Fight for shirts hots up

    ITTF World Juniors: Fight for shirts hots up

    The fight for places in the Team Nigeria contingent to the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championship in South Africa hots up at the National Training Centre of Lagos National Stadium.

    According to the coordinator of the camping exercise, Segun Toriola, the players are given their best in order to be part of the team, adding that the final list would be made known by next week.

    “I am impressed with the response of the players because every one of them wants to make the team to South Africa. For now we will still be watching them because we intend to organise a trial where the best will be selected for the world championship in Cape Town, South Africa by end of the year,” he said.

    However, the duo of Abayomi Animasahun and Azeez Solanke believe they would make the team having been part of the team to Algiers where the team picked a spot to the global tournament.

    The invited players were part of the team that featured at the ITTF African Junior Championship in Algiers where they qualified for the World Juniors, while outstanding players from the National U-16 tournament also made it to the camp.

    For the President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, the camp becomes necessary as some of the players would tutor on the latest rudiment of the sport. “The selected players will later go into close camping before the championship in November and they will continue to train in readiness for the competition. Segun Toriola will surely depart to his base after the camping and we hope the coaches around can continue to sharpen the skills of the players before the tournament which has Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria and Tunisia representing Africa in Cape Town, South Africa.”

    NTTF will cater for the players’ feeding and accommodation while their states are expected to offset their transport fare.