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Tag: table tennis

  • Nigeria crucial to table tennis globally – ATTF

    Nigeria crucial to table tennis globally – ATTF

    With the stride coupled with the performance of its players at global level, Nigeria remains crucial to the rising profile of table tennis in the world and particularly in Africa.

    These were the views of the President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, who told SportingLife at the just concluded ITTF Africa Senior Cup in Cameroon that in the last three years, Nigeria has indeed helped to raise the profile of the sport in Africa with the staging of the Lagos Classics in 2013.

    He, however, said that he was impressed with what Nigeria has attracted to Africa as the world table tennis governing body, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) now see the West African nation as crucial to its programmes in the world.

    “Nigeria started to come back on the right track three years ago under the leadership of Wahid Oshodi, and I can see how much promotion they got for the Cadet & Junior level to provide new generation of players. Of course they have opened doors for Aruna Quadri to show his class to the world at the 2014 ITTF World Cup in Germany. The hosting of Lagos Open for the last three years in a row has made Nigeria a place to be for top players in Africa and the tournament has also become part of the GAC World Tour events. Since its inception, it has been successful and it has been worthwhile to promote the game in Nigeria and it has also put the country on world map,” the ATTF boss said.

    He added: “I am so happy for the big steps we have made as regards growth and popularity of table tennis in the last few years and not only worldwide but also in Africa. For example two years ago no one could believe that we could have live streaming on youtube of some TV channels for our African Cup or African Championships as we have now in 2015, while the number of members of ATTF this year has reached 51 affiliated National Associations. This for us is a plus and this was made possible with the singular efforts made by Nigeria and countries like Egypt and Congo Brazzaville.”

    For all these to be possible, El-Salhy admitted, “We are all working as a team in ATTF Executive Committee to enlarge the number of affiliated associations within ITTF/ATTF, and also to promote the participation and well organization of our activities to get more popular.”

  • ‘Nigeria crucial to rising table tennis profile’

    ‘Nigeria crucial to rising table tennis profile’

    With the stride and performance of its players at global level, Nigeria remains crucial to the rising profile of table tennis in the world and particularly in Africa.

    These were the views of the President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, who told NationSport at the just concluded ITTF Africa Senior Cup in Cameroon that in the last three years, Nigeria has indeed helped to raise the profile of the sport in Africa with the staging of the Lagos Classics in 2013.

    He however, said that he was impressed with what Nigeria has attracted to Africa as the world table tennis governing body, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) now see the West African nation as a crucial to its programmes in the world.

    “Nigeria started to come back on the right track three years ago under the leadership of Wahid Oshodi, and I can see how much promotion they got for the Cadet & Junior level to provide new generation of players. Of course they have opened doors for Aruna Quadri to show his class to the world at the 2014 ITTF World Cup in Germany. The hosting of Lagos Open for the last three years in a row has made Nigeria a place to be for top players in Africa and the tournament has also become part of the GAC World Tour events. Since its inception, it has been successful and it has been worthwhile to promote the game in Nigeria and it has also put the country on world map,” the ATTF boss said.

    He added: “I am so happy for the big steps we have made regarding growth and popularity of table tennis in the last few years and not only worldwide but also in Africa. For example two years ago no one could believe that we could have live streaming on youtube some TV channels for our African Cup or African Championships as we have now in 2015, while the number of members of ATTF this year has reached 51 affiliated National Associations. This for us is a plus and this was made possible with the singular efforts made by Nigeria and countries like Egypt and Congo Brazzaville.”

    For all these to be possible, El-Salhy admitted, “We are all working as a team in ATTF Executive Committee to enlarge the number of affiliated associations within ITTF/ATTF, and also to promote the participation and well organization of our activities to get more popular.”

  • ITTF African Championships: Nigeria, Egypt in semifinal tie

    For finishing second in group two of the ITTF African Clubs Championships, Nigeria’s Union Bank has set up a semifinal tie against Egypt’s Alhy today in Yaounde.

    The Nigerian team coached by Samson Ajayi defeated Ethiopia, Cameroon and lost to Congo Brazzaville to settle for second place in the group.

    In the final group match, Union Bank thrashed Cameroon team 3-0, while they repeated same margin win over Ethiopia. They were however unfortunate against Congo Brazzaville as the scintillating performance by Ahmed Bello could not save the team from losing 3-1 to the Congolese.

    A confident Ajayi told NationSport that they are capable of causing upset against the Egyptian as the players are in form to play against any team regardless of their pedigree.

    “We are ready for any team because we are here to make our country proud and we hope we can surprise them tomorrow,” Ajayi said.

    In the second semifinal, defending champion, Congo Brazzaville’s Club Avenir will battle Algeria’s US Baraki for a place in the final.

    Congo Brazzaville’s Saheed Idowu, believes the Algerian team is beatable having defeated them in previous tournament.

    “I am confident that we can make it to the final because the Algerian team is very familiar to us and with the form we are now, we can also repeat same feat against them in the semifinal and we look forward to retaining our title in this competition,” Idowu said.

  • Nigerian athlete takes Mexican citizenship

    Nigerian athlete takes Mexican citizenship

    Prior to 2000, Jude Okoh was an integral member of the Nigeria National Table Tennis Team but when the opportunity presented itself for him to travel to Mexico, he did not waste time to grab it.

    On getting to Mexico, he fell sick and had to undergone operation which was successful and for more than five years, he could pursue a career in table tennis.

    And when the chance came to put his talent to use, Okoh grabbed it and made the Mexican national team to the 2008 World Table Tennis Championship in Guangzhou, China and for more than three years he was an important member of the Mexican team.

    In 2011, Okoh guided Mexico to his first international title with a bronze medal in the team event of the Pan America Games hosted by Mexico.

    This feat paved way for the Nigerian to improve himself in the art of table tennis and today, Okoh is a member of the Mexican national team to the 2015 ITTF World Championships in Suzhou, China.

    Married to a Mexican and blessed with three children, Okoh told Nation Sport on Monday in China that he never regretted moving to Mexico.

    “When I left Nigeria I was still playing in the national team with the likes of Segun Toriola and Monday Merotohun and on getting to Mexico I fell sick and I had to undergo operation and it was successful.

    “I played for Mexican national team and later I became coach/player and it was then in 2011 that I led the Mexican team to win their first international medal in table tennis at the 2011 Pan American Games in the men’s team event. I am now a coach with the team and things have been working well for me”.

    “It was while in Mexico I met my lovely wife and we have three wonderful kids with a beautiful home to live and what else will I ask God to do for me.

    “I will remain grateful to God for this and the Mexicans have appreciated what I have done and still doing and it has become my adopted country,” he said.

    However, Okoh could not but admit that the feat achieved by Aruna Quadri has also made the Mexicans to appreciate him more. “I think the Mexican now appreciate me more after seeing what Aruna Quadri did in the world and for me that is a big boost for my profile and I am looking forward to seeing more Quadri making impact in table tennis,” he added.

  • ITTF Africa Championships: Nigeria, Egypt in team event finals

    True to pre-tournament permutation, Nigeria and its rival, Egypt will clash in the final of men and women team events final at the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior championship in Cairo.
    With support for the Egyptian fans, Nigeria will have to be at their best as the two giants battle for the gold medals in the men and women events of the championship.
    To make it to the final of the women division, Nigeria walloped Algeria 3-0, while Egypt had a narrow victory against Congo Brazzaville in the thrilling semifinal tie which ended 3-2 in favour of the North Africans.
    In the men cadre, it was Ojo Onaolapo who started the rout against Congo Brazzaville team made up of Nigeria’s trio of Saheed Idowu, Saka Suraju and Abiodun Lawal.
    Idowu gave Onaolapo a run for the win as the game was stretched to five with the left-hand Onaolapo winning 3-2.
    ITTF World Player of the year, Aruna Quadri did not disappoint the fans in the second match against Suraju as he whitewashed the ageing Congolese star 3-0 to put the game at 2-0 in favour of the West Africa power house.
    Homegrown Kazeem Makanjuola had a hard time against Lawal as the game was stretched to five but it was the Congolese that won 3-2 to put the match at 2-1.
    To ensure that Nigeria sail through, Quadri completed the victory with a 3-0 win over Idowu.
    On Sunday, the two finals will be played at the International Hall of Police Sports Association in Cairo.
    Since the commencement of the competition, Quadri has not dropped any match, which table tennis buffs believe has confirmed his rating as world’s best.

  • ITTF Africa Championships: Nigeria women makes final of team event

    ITTF Africa Championships: Nigeria women makes final of team event

    Just like their male counterpart did in the quarterfinal, the Nigeria female on Saturday easily booked their place in the final of the team event of the ongoing ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior championship in Cairo, Egypt.
    The team showed no mercy against the Algerian team as they rounded off the game at 3-0 to set up a final match against the host – Egypt later on Saturday.
    An excited Edem Offiong believes the final against the Egyptians would not be an easy one but admitted that the team has the quality to match the North Africans.
    Her words: “I want to first of all thank the Egyptian Table Tennis Association (EGTTA) for accepting to host the tournament after it was cancelled last year because of the Ebola disease. Even with the short notice, they were able to put this competition together.
    “The Algerian girls tried their best but we overcame them. Hopefully we will do our best in the final because teams in this tournament are all good and the players are in good shape. I know it is not going to be an easy competition but I am confidence of myself,” the Portugal-based star said.
    She added: “I had to move to Europe last year because my game was going down while in Nigeria and I am happy that I am fully back as I am also playing well now. I had to do this for the love of the game and to improve my career because I love the game with passion.”

  • ITTF Championship: Nigeria gets Cameroun, Congo DRC as opponents

    As the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championship begins on Friday in Cairo, Nigeria male team has been drawn in Group two alongside Cameroun, Congo DRC and Djibouti.
    Host – Egypt will battle fellow North African, Morocco, South Africa and Senegal in group one, while Congo Brazzaville and Algeria will compete for a place in the quarterfinal in Group three and four respectively.
    Nigeria will begin its campaign against Djibouti while its second game will be against Cameroun on the opening day. Nigeria’s last group game will be against Congo DRC on Saturday.
    The two top teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinal of the tournament.
    In the women draw, Nigeria will clash again with Congo Brazzaville, South Africa and Kenya in group two, while Egypt is in group one with Algeria, Cameroun and Congo DRC.
    The two top teams in the women event will progress to the semifinal stage where the top teams will battle for the second place teams in each group.
    Aruna Quadri who is already in Cairo will lead Nigeria male team while Germany-based Funke Oshonaike will head the female team alongside Offiong Edem, Cecilia Otu-Akpan and Olaide Atinuke.
    Nigeria and Egypt have been tipped as favourites in the team events with over seven events competed for at the one-week event h

  • Table tennis coach impressed with Team Lagos’ kit

    Table tennis coach impressed with Team Lagos’ kit

    Samson Ajayi, a coach with the Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA), on Wednesday commended the Lagos State Government for providing adequate kits and bats for its athletes.

    Ajayi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that he was impressed with the appearance and quality of bats the state players used for the DAWN Games.

    “The dressing of Lagos athletes have made them to stand out among other visiting state athletes. This is worthy of praise, the gesture has really boosted their commitment and performance. You will agree with me that the athletes are happy with the way they are fully kited with the inscription “Team Lagos’’ on the track suits and brand new canvass.

    “The bats they use for table tennis is a standard one worth about N25, 000 and the joy of it is that it has become their personal property after the festival. This is marvelous and good for the development of the sport in the state,’’ he said.

    According to him, the bat will help the ping-pong players to improve on their training, skills and performance in future competitions. He therefore, urged the coaches to take full advantage of the facility to enhance their training programmes.

    “Bat is a major facility in ping-pong game and this government has really done both the players and coaches good by providing them with standard equipment to work with,’’ he added.

    He charged the young players to remain focused and see themselves as prospective professionals and future champions.

  • Nigeria table tennis has hope, says Omoniyi

    Nigeria table tennis has hope, says Omoniyi

    the Head Coach, Ondo State Table Tennis Association, Dotun Omoniyi, on Wednesday said that the recent victory of the junior national team showed that Nigeria had prospects in the game.

    Omoniyi, who led the team to the just concluded World Junior Table Tennis Championships in Rabat, Morocco, gave the assurance in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    “Our junior players’ performance has further bolstered my confidence that we have taken charge in Africa and will soon take full charge at the world level.

    No fewer than 35 countries participated in the competition held from Dec. 2 to Dec. 8.

    “At the end of the competition, Team Nigeria boy’s emerged the overall champion, while the girls finished third. With the result, the country’s junior boys’ team is now rated first in Africa and 15th in the world, while the girls are rated third in Africa and 19th in the world,’’ he told NAN.

    Omoniyi said that he was impressed by the team’s zeal, noting that the Nigerian players were not intimidated.

    “The championships attracted highly rated players from big nations in the world, but our players were not intimidated by their appearance, rather they courageously competed with them,’’ he added.

    NAN reports that eight players – four boys and four girls – made up the Team Nigeria at the world championships.

  • Why I almost quit table tennis – Offiong Edem

    Why I almost quit table tennis – Offiong Edem

    One of Nigeria’s finest table tennis players, Offiong Edem has revealed to SportingLife how she almost quit the ping pong game in 2011.

    Speaking exclusively, the former Portuguese based player said the treatment meted out on her after winning three Gold medals for Nigeria at the last All Africa Games (AAG) in Maputo, Mozambique.

    “I returned from the games with three gold medals and a silver medal in the team’s event and it was as if I didn’t represent this country. Nobody recognised that feat and I became frustrated that I almost quit the sport.

    “Times without number I felt like quitting the sport because of how we are treated here in Nigeria but somehow I found myself returning after series of pleas from my coach, Richard George who is also my brother in-law.

    “Efforts also made to see the governor of my state to present the medals to him were met with brick walls because some people felt I have to go through them, you know the Nigerian factor.”

    Asked if she’s satisfied with her achievements so far in table tennis, the light-complexioned player said: “I am fulfilled because I have achieved so much from table tennis. I have been to so many places and most of the things I have today are through the sport”.

    Recounting her rise to the top, Edem said: “It was so fast for me to become the National Champion in the year 2000. I was 13 or 14- years-old then when I became the women’s singles champion. As the champion I wanted to play and everybody wanted to see me play, it was really a good experience,”

    On the last Lagos International Table Tennis Championship, she said: “This is the biggest of all in Nigeria, back then I used to hear when my coach talked about the Bournvita, Coca- Cola championships. Inviting international players to come and play here in Nigeria is huge. It might not have been perfect but there’s room for improvement. The organisers did a fantastic job and I want to thank the president for his own idea because if not for him, I don’t think we would have had something like this.”