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Tag: Nigeria Table Tennis Federation

  • NTTF names team for WJC, AJCC in Ghana

    The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has named a 12-man team that will represent the country at the ITTF World Junior Circuit (WJC) and African Junior and Cadet Championship (AJCC) holding in Accra, Ghana from April 1 to 13.

    The team is made up of seven boys and five girls competing in WJC and AJCC.

    The AJCC serves as qualification for the 2019 World Junior Championship holding later in the year.

    National junior champion, Azeez Solanke will be leading the team alongside, Augustine Emmanuel, Jamiu Ayanwale, Abayomi Animashaun, Taiwo Matti, Musa Mustapha and Mustapha Mustapha completed the boys’ team. The girls’ team has Vivian Oku, Roafiat Jimoh, Iyanuoluwa Falana, Sukurat Aiyelabegan and Sadiat Akeem and they will be accompanied by three coaches.

    After missing the last two AJCC, Nigeria will be making a return to the continental showpiece as the team will be aiming to dethrone defending champion – Egypt in Accra next week.

    Already, the organizers of the tournament, Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has promised an exciting tournament being the first time the West Africa will be staging an international table tennis tournament in the last 16 years.

    According to Ghana Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Asiamah, Ghana would host a befitting tournament. “We are grateful to ITTF and ATTF for choosing Ghana as host of these important competitions and for us we are excited that this is in line with our ideals of growing all sports from grassroots levels. We have been working hard to revive our school sports because we know we have the potential to be among the best in sports. I am also using this opportunity to charge the Ghana Table Tennis Association to focus on schools across the country to be able to discover new talents that will make our country proud at the 2023 African Games which we are hosting,” Isaac Asiamah said.

    However, the President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy has expressed optimism on Ghana’s readiness to host the world and Africa for 13 days.

  • NTTF Presidency not in my Agenda-Toriola

     

    If there is one thing that is completely off the scale of preference of Nigeria’s Table Tennis veteran, Segun Toriola, it is becoming the President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).

    Toriola who led Team Nigeria table tennis team to Silver medal at the  Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia which ends Sunday, maintained that his priority remains to see Nigeria holding her own in the game and more Nigerians proving their mettle, noting that there are millions and one ways he can inspire others without necessarily being the President of the Federation.

    “I am doing my bit and my desire is to always see Nigeria doing well and up and coming athletes measuring up. It does not mean that I have to be the president of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) to contribute to the development of the game, I don’t think about that now , it is not in my agenda,” he submitted.

    Toriola who described Nigeria athletes as self-made opined that Nigeria would have become the nation to beat in sports if the country had imbibed the culture of training and monitoring her athletes like it is done in other countries, noting that most athletes who excel for Nigeria train themselves and achieve through personal efforts.

    “We have the potentials to do better that we are doing in sports, but we don’t train our athletes, most of them train own their and achieve through personal efforts, it is not like that in most countries.  They have budget for the sports Federations and take training of athletes seriously and there is no way you can be the best without proper training,” he said

    The four-time All Africa Games Gold medalists who bared his mind while assessing the effort of Team Nigeria in Australia, challenged up and coming players and those who have found something to appreciate in what he has contributed to the game so far, to embrace hard work, ensure that they have a good coach and be ready make sacrifice.

    “The younger ones must be ready to make sacrifice, must work very hard and we require a good coach be patient and ready to learn,” he added.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Commonwealth Games selection will be on merit – NTTF

    Commonwealth Games selection will be on merit – NTTF

    The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) said the selection of players for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Australia would be on merit.

    NTTF’s National Coach Nasiru Bello told the Reporter on Wednesday in Lagos that the trials would be very competitive as players would be eager to make the team.

    Reporter reports that the 2018 Games is scheduled for April 4 to April 25 in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, would feature 275 events in 18 sports with 70 countries participating.

    “We had a national trial in December which identified some outstanding players in the ongoing camp, but we owe the nation a duty to present a formidable team for the Games.

    “The target is to improve our record because our performance in Glasgow was not impressive where we got only a bronze medal in the men’s team event.

    “Besides, those who have featured in the Commonwealth Games will strive to maintain their position, while first timers will also struggle to displace them in the final trials proposed for February.

    Read Also: NTTF Championship: Men’s champion crashes out

    “The home-based are anxious to make a name for themselves and have the opportunity to be listed in the world ranking after their participation in the Games,’’ he said.

    Bello said that the quest had compelled home-based players in camp to absorb rigorous training daily in the Knock-Up Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.

    He said that the players were responsive to the programme which included services, stroke techniques and skills, adding that those were necessary to sharpen their forms.

    “We observe training twice daily; morning and evening sessions and we also carry our foreign-based players along as part of build-up for the final trials.

    “Training is going on well, the players are doing well in line with the programmes we are giving them here, the foreign-based are not left out,’’ he said.

    The coach popularly known as Alakoro expressed confidence that the country would top the medal table in various events that would be featured in the Games.

    NAN

  • NTTF kicks off preparation for 2018 intercontinental games

    NTTF kicks off preparation for 2018 intercontinental games

    No fewer than 347 players are currently participating in the 2017 National Table Tennis Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games Selection Trials which served-off  on Wednesday at the National Stadium, Lagos.

    The dual event holding from December 13 to December 16 is being organised by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).

    The NTTF Assistant Secretary, c, said the events were part of its annual programmes and build up for the Commonwealth Games.

    Adeosun said it was an open and first trial directed toward giving players across the country the opportunity to prove their mettle in the Able and Para-Class of the various events.

    “The turnout is really high and I think it’s because the competition was declared open for the physically challenged and able bodied players across.

    Read also: NTTF set for national open, Commonwealth trials

    “Most players are familiar with the National Championships, being an arm of this event, but we have widened the scope this year because of major Games holding next year.

    “Although, this is the first stage of the trials because it involves more of the home-based, the platform will help to ginger players ahead of bigger tasks ahead.

    “So, those that performed credibly in this stage will have the opportunity to be part of the subsequent stages; this is the standard and process for selection,’’ she said.

    Adeosun said the NTTF would organise the 2nd stage of the trials in the first quarter of 2018, adding that it would be a closed event involving foreign-based players.

    The NTTF’s assistant secretary said the championships holding simultaneously in the Knock-Up Hall and Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, was being sponsored by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

    NAN

  • NTTF condoles sports minister

     

    The board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has condoled with Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung on the demise of his lovely wife, Mrs. Briskila Dalung on Sunday January 28.
    The late mother of five passed after a brief illness.
    In a statement signed by NTTF President, Wahid Oshodi, the federation symphatised with the minister while describing it as a shocking news to sports family in Nigeria.
    “We were shocked by the death of Mrs Briskila Dalung – wife of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung. We mourned with the Dalung family and pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.
    Mrs Dalung died in the early hours of Sunday after a brief illness and her death was announced on the Facebook page of the Honourable Minister read thus.
    “I am bereaved. My heart is heavy. I cannot continue. I lost my first wife, Mrs Briskila this morning. May her soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in the bosom of the Lord, amen. What a black Sunday,” a breaved minister wrote.

  • Olympics: Countries scramble for Toriola as coach

    Olympics: Countries scramble for Toriola as coach

    The rapturous applause that attended his exit from the Table Tennis event of the Rio Olympics could have been mistaken for a victorious ovation. Nigeria’s legendary table tennis icon Segun Toriola exited the Rio Games but held his head high the way only legends do.

    His conqueror, Japan’s Niwa Koki, who beat Segun in the men’s singles event of table tennis joined in acknowledging the iconic star who raised his hands to return the sporadic applause.

    Not long after his defeat, Toriola who made history by joining the elite stars’ club of players to have attended the 7 Olympics turned out to be the beautiful bride who is sought after by many countries to sign as their coach.

    ‘’Countries are queuing to see who will out-bid each other to land Toriola as coach’’, a very dependable source said here.

    Interestingly, too, Nigeria is also desirous of landing the history maker as their coach.

    President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, Enitan Oshodi said they’ve always been interested and would want to complete the deal, noting however that Toriola was still much fit to continue with his club functions. “He’ll be an asset and has always been to our young athletes. We’ll see how to make it even if it means living abroad and coaching from there as it were.

    “The young man deserves all the accolades he gets. That is the result of discipline and hard work. And honestly,  they are the things lacking in our youth players. They are in a hurry to ride expensive cars without working for it,” Oshodi bemoaned.

    Just as the International Table Tennis Federation plan to honour his historic 7th Olympic appearance, there are feelers that officials of Team Nigeria are also planning to roll out the red carpet to this eminent Nigerian Ping Ponger.