The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rio 2016 Olympic Games

  • Ahead of Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Quadri is Africa’s best in Rio

    Despite sliding to 40 in the August 2016 ITTF ranking, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri remains Africa’s best ranked player in the world at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

    With all eyes on the table tennis event, Quadri may be starting his campaign in the singles event from the second round as the 2014 ITTF Star Player will be ranked among the top 32 at the Rio Olympic Games.

    However, Quadri and Segun Toriola campaigns in Brazil got a boost yesterday as Frot Group has again put words to action by supporting the players in their quest for glory at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

    The chairman of Frot Group, Frank Momoh has been supporting sports in Nigeria while he extended the gesture to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) during the 2016 ITTF World Tour tagged Nigeria Open.

    For the president of NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, the gesture would motivate the players in their quest to make the country proud in Brazil.

    “This support for Segun Toriola and Aruna Quadri will greatly encourage and assist our top players in their quest to put up a good performance in the Olympics and other upcoming tournaments. It will help in reducing the financial strain incurred by the players in traveling and buying equipment. Playing at world level carries a lot of expenses and the support from Frot Group will go a long way in assuaging the financial burden on the players. We are very grateful to the Chairman Of Frot Group, Mr. Frank Momoh for making this possible.”
  • Rio 2016: We won’t return empty-handed from Olympic- Wrestlers

    Rio 2016: We won’t return empty-handed from Olympic- Wrestlers

    After pass through the hook to qualify for their first Olympic Games, the trio of Aminat Adeniyi, Amas Daniel and Hannah Reuben who will be competing in the wrestling event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games believe the seven-man wrestling team would return empty-handed from the South America nation.

    The wrestlers who are making their debut at the biggest sporting event in the world are full of optimism having dominated the sport in the continent at the African Games and Championships and they are eager to climb the podium in Brazil.

    After narrowly missing out from competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games, wrestler Amas Daniel cherishes his qualification while hopeful that he would make Nigeria proud in Brazil.

    “It was the disappointment of 2012 that inspired me to ensure I make it to Rio this year.

    I am not celebrat­ing yet as the bulk does not just stop at qualifying alone; the target is going to Rio and getting into the medals range. The Olympic standard is high, and I cannot promise any colour of medal as what I rely on now is my training and God but I will make sure I use my last strength in Brazil.”

    The dream of making to the Olympic Games for Hannah Reuben started in 2013 and it became a reality in Egypt this year at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. For the 22 year-old 69kg freestyle wrestler, the Olympic Games would afford her the opportunity to put her full potential to action against the world’s best.

    23 year-old Aminat Adeniyi, another freestyle wrestler who will be competing in the 58kg in Brazil, the excitement of qualifying for the Olympic Games has continued to inspire her in training. “I feel so happy qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. It has been my utmost prayer to go to the Olympic Games and whenever I see Olympians I desire to emulate them. Now I am now an Olympian and my aspiration in high for Brazil and I pray and hope that with my hardwork and God’s favour I will make it to the podium,” she said.

  • Rio: Criticisms trail Mikel’s appointment as Nigeria captain

    Rio: Criticisms trail Mikel’s appointment as Nigeria captain

  • Olympics: Table tennis team won’t disappoint Nigerians – Abiodun

    Olympics: Table tennis team won’t disappoint Nigerians – Abiodun

  • 2016 Olympic: We won’t be under pressure at Rio – Toriola

    2016 Olympic: We won’t be under pressure at Rio – Toriola

    Captain of the table tennis team to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, Segun Toriola believes the team would not be under unnecessary pressure to perform at the games.

    Toriola, who has been celebrated globally for being the first African athlete to feature in seven Olympic Games said they hope to make the country proud in Brazil.

    “It is very important that we put up a good performance and make the country proud at the Olympics. We are preparing ourselves very well and hopefully we will have something to celebrate in Rio.”

    He added: Aruna Quadri is an experienced player and he is the best in Africa for now based on his achievement, but I don’t think that he will be under unnecessary pressure in Rio because he is not going to be thinking about the games. It is only when an athlete thinks that he put himself under unnecessary pressure. As a team will not be playing under pressure too as we want to go out there and make names for ourselves and the country.”

    Also, the President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi believes the players are gearing up to do well in Brazil.

    “‎Our preparation could be a lot better, but we all know the problem that is facing sports today. The players have continued to do their best to keep in shape and they are working very hard as you know before the tournament start. We are hopeful, we had high hope, we are confident that we will do well with these players,” Oshodi said.

  • Olympics: Ajagba can win gold in boxing – Konyegwachie

    Olympics: Ajagba can win gold in boxing – Konyegwachie

  • “I was afraid of making it to sixth Olympic Games”

    “I was afraid of making it to sixth Olympic Games”

    On records Olufunke Oshonaike is the most successful female table tennis player at the African Games having won more medals than any other player in the continent. Back-to-back she has won the singles title and for four consecutive editions of the Africa’s Olympics, Oshonaike has claimed the doubles title.

    The 40-year-old mother of two is yet to come to terms that she will taking part in her sixth Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil having debuted at the biggest sporting gathering at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics in United States. Despite her inability to win medals at the Olympic Games, Oshonaike says that any athlete that makes it to the Olympics should be appreciated as it remains the biggest stage for the best of the best in the world.

    Oshonaike is edging toward history in Africa as the first female table tennis player to be competing at her sixth Olympic Games and it is a journey the former African champion says she never envisaged when she made her Olympics debut in 1996.

    “When I attended my first Olympic Games in 1996, I never thought I will be able to make it six appearances because then I just wanted to take part in three Olympics. But here I am today looking forward to my sixth Olympics. For me, this is an awesome experience I would cherish in my life. The Olympic Games is a special event and not many people make it there and for me to be going there for the sixth consecutive times is a feat I never dreamed of but by God’s grace I am here today looking forward to another outing at the biggest sporting stage,” she said.

    “My first appearance at the Olympic Games was an experience I would admire forever because I met the best in the world and I rubbed shoulders with them and this for me is an experience every athlete would desire. It is only the best that attends Olympic Games and every athlete that competes at the Olympic Games qualified based on their performance. Most of the participants were not given easy tickets to be at the games.”

    Despite her participation in several international tournaments across the globe, Oshonaike still believes that the Olympic Games remains the ‘icing on the cake’ for athletes.

    “It is the dream of every athlete to make it to the Olympics because it is the best among the best that attend Olympic Games and I have been privilege to be among these best. This for me is a feat I will cherish more than any medals I might have won at the African Games or championships.

    “You cannot compare the experience with any other events because you meet with other top athletes across the globe while the atmosphere is most times unique and this is what endeared the heart of many globally. Olympic is not all about medal even some athletes who must have won medals in several international competitions do not make it to the Olympics as only few make it there,” the athlete said.

    With few weeks to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Oshonaike admits that with the new format, the dominance of China may be halted in Brazil. “For us representing our country very well in Rio is our priority and we must strive to be good ambassadors in terms of our conduct on and off the arena. We want to go to Rio and exhibit the virtues synonymous with Nigeria. We are not going to be promising any medal but anything can happen but we will surely give our best. For me, this might be my last Olympic Games and I want to cherish every moment I am going to spend in Brazil and I hope I can achieve something.”

      On the dearth of quality female players, Oshonaike is pained by this development but blamed it on indiscipline and interest on the part of the athletes. “When we started playing, discipline was made very important and we were also passionate about the sport. Money was not our priority as we also have training schedule that we follow.

    “But unfortunately, things are quite different these days as athletes are not as disciplined, and the passion for the sport has not been there. I am so sad that our players are not showing enough interest in the sport but I hope and believe with the efforts being made by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), we can have more players coming through.”

  • Tennis: Nigeria beats Egypt to Africa’s sole slot of Rio Olympics

    Tennis: Nigeria beats Egypt to Africa’s sole slot of Rio Olympics

    With the recent ranking released by the world table tennis ruling body, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on Thursday, Team Nigeria have secured the continental sole slot of the men’s team event of Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

    For this, Nigeria will be part of the 16 countries that will compete for medals in the team event of the Olympic Games as the highest rated team from Africa.

    This development was confirmed based on the May ranking released by the world table tennis ruling body, the ITTF on Thursday with Nigeria’s men being the highest rated team from Africa to beat Egypt to the sole slot.

    According to qualification format, the May 2016 Olympic Team Ranking list is taken into consideration for the team selections at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

    And from the rating released in May 2016, Nigeria may have dropped to 27 in the world based on the inactiveness of its players, but the team was ahead of Egypt who was ranked 32.

    Despite dropping from 26 to 27 with 202 points, the West African giant beat Egypt, which has 192 to the sole slot for the continent.

    With this, Nigeria will represent Africa in the men’s team event of the Rio Olympic Games and will compete for medals with 15 other teams from the globe.

    However, Egypt beat Nigeria to the sole slot in the women’s team event as the best rated team from the continent occupying 31st place in the world with Nigeria rated 39th.

    For the second time, Egypt has edged out Nigeria from the women team event of the Olympics after their maiden appearance in the team event of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

    Meanwhile, the President of Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy confirmed this development, but said that ITTF would officially announce the list of qualified teams in few days.

    ITTF has not announced the list of qualified teams yet but I believe that it should be done within the coming 48 hours, but according to the rules for Olympic Games – Team events, each continent is entitled for at least one entry for team event. For Africa Men’s Team : it will be Nigeria as per position (27) compared with the other African teams, Egypt (32) & Congo Brazzaville (35), while for the Women’s Team: it will be Egypt as per position (31) compared with the other Africa teams, Nigeria (39) & Algeria (66).”

    He added: “This is my expectation, and I wish on behalf of ATTF the best of luck for both teams of Nigeria & Egypt to be the perfect ambassadors for our continent in Rio Olympic Games and to qualify for the top eight teams (quarter-finalists).

  • Ahead of Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Egypt to tour Singapore for Nigeria

    Ahead of Rio 2016 Olympic Games: Egypt to tour Singapore for Nigeria

    To ensure that they beat Nigeria to the sole spot in the team event of the Rio Olympic Games, the Egyptian national team has moved their training camp to Singapore in readiness for the 2016 World Team Championship which serves as qualifiers.

    Aside Omar Assar who is playing in the French elite League alongside Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri, every member of the Egyptian team are at present in Singapore warming up for the World Championship holding this month in Malaysia.

    Africa’s number one female player, Dina Meshref confirmed this, saying that they cannot afford to lose the spot to Nigeria as the West African remains the only stumbling block to the North African team’s ambition.

    “We are now in Singapore and we hope to play in two ITTF World Tours in Hungary and Germany. After this we will return to Singapore to continue training. We had already qualified for players in the singles event and we want to crown it with winning the sole slot in the men and women team events through the world championships in Malaysia. Nigeria is the only team we believe can give us a tough challenge and we don’t want to leave any chance for them,” she said.

    Also to serve as a warning signal for Nigeria, Omar Assar was in fine form against world number four, Germany’s Dimitry Ovtcharov in a  thrilling round of 32 match at the just concluded German Open.

    A very proud Assar said: “I am very proud to be in Berlin playing particularly against the best players in the world. The German Open is a big part of the  preparation for the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup in Sudan. Together with the camps and training with Chinese players is one highlight for this week for me,” he said.

    Meanwhile, President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy believes the Malaysia tourney would provide African teams to shape up for the Olympic Games as well as compete for the continent’s sole slot in the team event.

  • Olympics: Nigeria, Egypt battle for continental slot

    Olympics: Nigeria, Egypt battle for continental slot

    The battle to clinch the continental sole ticket in the team event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be between Nigeria and Egypt as the two nations slug it out at the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Team Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

    In the latest team ranking released by the world table tennis ruling body, Nigeria is ranked below Egypt and the performance of the team in Malaysia will determine its fate.

    In the Olympic ranking for the men’s team, Egypt is rated 28 while Nigeria occupies 33rd place based on the performance of each team in the last one year.

    Nigeria was able to close the gap on Egypt a bit following its victory over the Egyptian team at the 2015 African Games.

    In the women rating, Nigeria is still playing second fiddle to Egypt with the North African placing 32 while Nigeria is ranked 36th.

    According to ITTF Publications Editor, Ian Marshall, team with the highest rating in every continent including the top ranked in the world will get automatic qualification for the team event.

    Once the qualified players list has been determined by the ITTF Olympic Singles Ranking, the process to decide the 16 teams for the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events will kick-start.

    A team comprises three players with each is continent – Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, Oceania – is entitled to be represented.
    The first step is the highest listed National Olympic Committee from each continent on the May 2016 ITTF Olympic Team Ranking list, with a total of two qualified athletes for the singles events, receives an additional place from the Team Quota. The name of the player to fill the additional place is at the discretion of the relevant National Olympic Committees.
    If within a given continent no National Olympic Committee has two qualified athletes for the singles events, then the highest ranked team, based on the May 2016 ITTF Olympic Team Ranking list, with one athlete qualified, will receive two additional places from the Team Quota. 
    For the singles events, continental tournaments like the African Games and Qualifying tournament will determine the players that will make it to Rio from Africa.

    Marshall said by April, a total of 40 men and 40 women will have qualified while the next step in the process is the ITTF Olympic Singles Ranking Qualification.

    Commencing from January 2016, a monthly Olympic Singles Ranking, considering only eligible athletes for the Olympic Games, is published.