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Tag: Wahid Oshodi

  • WAHID OSHODI: My plans for African gifted young ping pongers

    WAHID OSHODI: My plans for African gifted young ping pongers

    Wahid Enitan Oshodi needs no introduction. Following in the enviable Lagos tradition of table tennis, the sports administrator has come a long way-to see the game evolve from the pleasurable communal pride and joy enthusiastically followed and supported by the young and the old as well as crème de la crème of Lagos, to the national and international stages, with Lagos the epic centre of the ping pong sport.

    Set to contest for the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) President on October 15, 2024, Oshodi, who has climbed the leadership ladder steadily from the state to national and the international bodies, is fully ready to take over the headship of the continental body.

    Oshodi began his journey as the Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association and became Sports Commissioner of the state in 2011 during Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration.

    During his tenure as Commissioner, Lagos hosted the highly acclaimed National Sports Festival, ‘Eko 2012,’ and established itself as a key sports hub in Africa with the introduction of the International Sports Classics series.

    He was later elected Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Deputy President of ATTF.

    If elected, Oshodi will be the second Nigerian to hold the prestigious position, following the steps of Engr. Segun George, a former ATTF President.

    The engineer cum lawyer has paid his dues by administering table tennis before bidding for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and prior to his present position; he was ITTF’s chairman of the nomination committee – one of the key committees of the world body.

    Oshodi is committed to developing African table tennis from the grassroots, a pledge he has glowingly spoken about and dutifully pursued.

    On assuming Deputy President of ATTF years ago, he once again made the bold declaration to focus on youth development projects. 

    He said: “Table tennis is evolving daily and I am happy to be able to contribute my quota at this crucial period. I believe we have the capacity to be a top three-sport worldwide.

    “We have the most gifted athletes in our sport and we the administrators must continue to find ways to project our athletes and develop our sport.”

    With special interest in youth development and staging of top-notch event, Oshodi said in an interview: “Two major areas I shall be focusing on are improvements to youth development and creating top-class events across the continent.

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    “Africa has a lot of fantastic young players and we need to help them develop their skills and grow to become top players. We have been doing this for a while but this new position will assist greatly in sourcing resources to assist these young boys and girls in their development.

    “They need the best coaches and they must attend international tournaments to test themselves. Being a part of the World Table Tennis tour is very important in seeking to be the best. We must continue to produce top events that will attract the best players to come to Africa.

    “We in Nigeria saw the effect of the hosting of the Lagos International Open on our players. It aided them in playing against top-class players and different styles. I am confident we can produce more top world-class players like Quadri Aruna and others.

    Now that he’s vying for the exalted position of President of ATTF, his focus wouldn’t be different, and Nigeria and hundreds of other member countries of Africa will no doubt benefit.

    Already, Lagos has successfully hosted one of the biggest global table tennis championships, the WTT Contender Lagos more than once. 

  • Table tennis festival will ignite Lagos – Oshodi

    The annual Seamaster ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open has continued to attract world class players to Lagos, the commercial nerve-centre of Nigeria, in the last five years and this has made the tournament to be regarded as Africa’s elite table tennis championships.

    With the upgrading of the tournament to Challenge Plus by the world table tennis ruling body, chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the tournament, Wahid Oshodi believes the quality of players coming this year would surely ignite the tournament.

    Specifically, the hosting of the African Club Championships and Cup alongside the Seamaster ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open, Oshodi says Nigerian fans are in for a super treat.

    For Oshodi, table tennis has made Lagos the ‘official’ home of the sport in Africa particularly with the consistent staging of the Seamaster ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open and this he said would continue to help local players to test their might against the world’s best.

    Read Also: Africa honours Ghana’s table tennis legend, Ethel Jacks

    “The knowledge and experience our home-based and young players gain from watching and playing against some of the best players in the world is invaluable. This in part makes up for the fact that our players lack the necessary exposure which comes from travelling and playing on the circuit. We have been seeing the gains of staging the tournament in the good performances of our younger players on the Junior Circuit. We can see players like Olajide Omotayo, Tobi Falana and Nurudeen Hassan who have improved tremendously to gain entry into the senior national team. Also importantly, thousands of passionate fans and recreational players get to see their heroes at close quarters, thus creating one of the most exciting events in our country,” Oshodi said.

    For 2019 edition, he said: “We expect a lot more top players. The tournament is now an ITTF Challenge plus tournament. Lots more prize money $60,000 and the most important is the increased points which all the players are aiming to get in a bid for Olympic qualification. This year also with three tournaments preceding the Nigeria Open it will be a fantastic festival of top-class table tennis. The Nigerian fans are in for a super treat.

  • Team Nigeria confirms for YOG qualifiers in Tunis

    Team Nigeria confirms for YOG qualifiers in Tunis

    After missing the ongoing ITTF African Junior Championship, Team Nigeria has been confirmed for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) qualifiers after the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi facilitated the trip for the three-man team to Tunis.

    The inability of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to provide logistics for the team denied them of the chance to compete for places in the teams that will qualify for the World Junior Championships and World Cadet Challenge.

    However, for the players the YOG qualifiers will afford them the opportunity to up their career as well as compete at global level for the country.

    The team made up of two players and one coach is expected to arrive in Tunis today for the qualifiers which hold on April 16 to 17.

    National junior champions, Azeez Solanke and Tosin Esther Oribamise and coach Dotun Omoniyi departed Nigeria early this morning to Tunis.

    For Oshodi, it is important to support the career of these young players on their quest to make the senior team. “It is very important to support these players in their quest to improve their career and on their way to the senior cadre. After missing the ITTF African Junior Championships, we cannot allow these players to waste their efforts because they have worked hard in the last few months and the YOG qualifiers will afford them the opportunity to test their might and also make it to the YOG in 2018,” Oshodi said.

    Meanwhile, Solanke has been seeded number two in the boys seeding list while Oribamise is rated number three in the girls event of the YOG qualifiers.

    Each participating country in the YOG Qualifiers is expected to register one player each in the boys and girls event respectively while the finalists qualify automatically for YOG in Argentina.

  • Oyetayo stuns Jamiu as Otu-Akpan claims singles titles

    Oyetayo stuns Jamiu as Otu-Akpan claims singles titles

    The best of table tennis was on display at the weekend at the maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championships as Sola Oyetayo rallied from 0-3 down to stun Azeez Jamiu, to claim the men’s singles title.
    The colourful final was well-attended by dignitaries across the country include Director, Grassroots Sports of Ministry of Youth and Sports, Demola Are as well as proprietor of Nath FC of Lagos, Yemi Idowu and to their expectations, the tournament lived up to its billing.
    From the outcome of the men’s singles final, it was obvious that the country is blessed with abundant talents, while the comeback of the Sola Oyetayo was the climax of the championship.
    From the start of the encounter, it was as if Azeez Jamiu was in the driver seat racing to a 3-0 lead. But a sheer determination coupled with his calmness became the joker for Oyetayo, as the player rallied from 0-3 down to win at 4-3 to the admiration of the fans and dignitaries who enjoyed every moment of the encounter.
    Member of the female national team, Cecilia Otu-Akpan displayed her skill against Fatimo Bello as the Cross River-based star defeated the Lagos’ Bello 4-0 to claim the women singles titles.
    For her feat in junior and senior events, Ajoke Ojomu was adjudged the most valuable female player of the competition with cash reward to show for her efforts.
    Ojomu, a member of Abuja-based G20 team claimed the women and junior girls’ team titles at the five-day tournament held at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium.
    According to the Tournament Director, John Peters, the tournament would surely help members of the Nigeria junior team going to the 2016 ITTF World Junior Championships holding in South Africa later this month. “The championships served as a final training session for our South Africa- bound junior players. Happily, the young lads and lasses lived up to expectations. They not only won several prizes, but also won awards as the players of the championships in both female and male categories. The organisation was super and praise worthy. I wish our ambassadors to the ITTF Junior World championships a good outing. I must also give kudos to the NTTF President, Wahid Oshodi for rallying his friends to sponsor the competition. I call on al lovers of table tennis in Nigeria to support him to ensure that there are top performing players to succeed the Toriolas, the Oshonnaikes and the Arunas when they retire,” Peters said.

  • 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.

  • ITTF World Junior Championships: Ojomu leads Nigerian team to Cape Town

    ITTF World Junior Championships: Ojomu leads Nigerian team to Cape Town

    As the only junior female player that made it to the last 16 of the 2016 ITTF Nigerian Open, Abuja-based Ajoke Ojomu will lead the eight-man Nigerian contingent to this month’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Junior Championships holding in Cape Town, South Africa.

    Ojomu, who was also instrumental to Nigeria’s qualification for the championship will have Tosin Esther Oribamise, Agnes Onoja and Alimot Ayinla as members of the Nigerian girls’ team to the competition.

    The boys’ team will have bronze medallist in the boys’ singles of the African Junior Championship, Azeez Solanke as well as Amadi Omeh, Tobi Falana and Rilwan Akanbi.

    The players were selected after a rigorous training exercise conducted under the watchful eyes of seven-time Olympian, Segun Toriola in September and the team will join Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and host – South Africa as the continent’s representatives at the one-week championship.

    The team will compete for honours in the singles, doubles and team events of the championships, which serve off on November 30 to December 7.

    According to the President of NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, the tournament would be used to groom female players for the senior national team and add more male players to the senior team. “I hope we will be able to remedy the lack of quality female players in the senior team with the girls’ team going to the World Junior Championships in South Africa. The four young girls on that team need to grab this opportunity and start to build a serious career for themselves. In all this, I must continue to give credit to Olufunke Oshonaike that despite all her years in the game she continues to show great commitment to the cause of our country and we hope these girls can take a cue from her,” Oshodi said.

    Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt will present boys’ and girls’ teams, while Tunisia will have its boys’ team with Algeria presenting its girls’ team for the competition.

    Over 24 countries will present 96 boys and 96 girls that will slug it out in the individual and team events of the competition.

  • Nigeria’s Oladapo returns as ITTF Africa VP

    Nigeria’s Oladapo returns as ITTF Africa VP

    • Oshodi becomes regional boss

    Former Secretary General of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Olabanji Oladapo has been returned unopposed as Vice President, Administration of the eight-man Executive Council of ITTF Africa during the Bi-Annual General Assembly (BGM) held in Agadir, Morocco on Tuesday.

    Similarly, the President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi has been elected as the Regional Vice President (Western Region) of ITTF Africa.

    Oshodi, who is also a Member of the Nominations Committee of ITTF will be in charge of the Western region which includes Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. He is expected to coordinate the activities in this region with the aim of developing table tennis.

    Wahid Enitan Oshodi
    Wahid Enitan Oshodi

    Oladapo was elected alongside the President, ITTF Africa, Egypt’s Khaled El-Salhy in the new executives for another four-year term.

    Khaled El-Salhy, who became the president of the second largest continental body under the ITTF was elected unopposed while Henry Djombo (CGO), Deputy President; Olabanji Oladapo (NGR), Vice President Administration; Hajera Kajee (RSA), Vice President Marketing; Berte Abou Bakary (CIV), Vice President Finance; Monqid Hajji (MAR), Vice President Media and Public Relations and Balla Lo (SEN), Vice President Technical were all elected unopposed.

    For the regional Vice Presidents, Abdennour Kaci (Algeria) takes charge of Northern Region, Wahid Oshodi (Nigeria) is in charge of Western Region, Alfred Bagueka (Cameroon) is for Central Region, Andrew Mudibo (Kenya) to administer Eastern Rgion and Joe Carrim (South Africa) will take control of Southern Region.

    The council members are Kamel Zaitouni (Algeria), Mahmoud Oumar (Djibouti), Jalal Hariz (Libya), Philippe Hao Thyn Voon    (Mauritius), Abdelrahman El-Sallawi (Sudan) and Thomas Kiggundo (Uganda).

    However, two more co-opted members are expected to be added through the ITTF-Africa Executive Council maiden meeting.

    In his acceptance speech, Khaled El-Salhy pledged to uplift the fortune of table tennis in the continent, while calling for more support from national associations. “I am highly honoured to be considered for another term in office and I want to that the congress for their trust and support. We are so ambitious for the future hoping that we can focus on development and marketing of the sport so that we can continue to grow the sport in Africa,” he said.

    Countries that staged major competitions were also honoured for their efforts.

    Over 18 national associations graced the BGM while the congress also commended Morocco for their efforts to stage a befitting ITTF Africa Senior Championships.

    For 2017, Tunisia will host the African Junior and Cadet Championships in April while Congo Brazzaville is considering hosting the ITTF African Cup and Club Championship in July.

  • 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.

  • Olympics: NTTF plans celebration for legend Toriola

    Olympics: NTTF plans celebration for legend Toriola

    …Calls up 20 for World Juniors in SA

    To follow the footsteps of International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is planning a befitting celebration for the first African to attend seven Olympic Games, Segun Toriola.

    According to the President of NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, it behooves on the federation to honour Toriola for his giant stride in the sport while there are plans to recommend the former African champion and others for national honours.

    “The NTTF will definitely be celebrating the Legend with a series of activities in Nigeria. His achievements are so inspiring that we must find a way to say thank you to this great talented patriotic Nigerian. The IOC, the ITTF and the ATTF have led the way and we surely will ensure that we give him a befitting award. We are also hopeful that the Ministry of Youth and Sports will join us in this laudable quest. This will be done at a time to fit into his busy schedule.”

    He added: “We shall also be making a fervent case for athletes like Toriola, Funke Oshonaike Bose Kaffo and Babatunde Obisanya  alongside other remarkable athletes outside football and athletics be recognized when national honours are being awarded.”

    Meanwhile, the federation is poised to build on the performance at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as it has called up 20 players made up of 12 boys and eight girls for this year’s World Junior Championship holding later in the year in Cape Town, South Africa. The camping begins on Monday August 23 to September 3 at the National Training Centre of Lagos National Stadium.

    Teenage sensations – Abayomi Animasahun and Tosin Oribamise top the list of invited players. Others are Azeez Solanke, Amadi Umeh, Michael Abayomi, Augustine Emmanuel, Jamiu Ayanwale, Ololade Oyenekan, Tobi Falana, Etim Orok, Babafemi Babatunde and Umar Ibrahim made up the boys’ list, while the girls are – Agnes Onoja, Ajoke Ojomu, Alimot Ayinla, Rofiat Jimoh and Sukurat Aiyelabegan.

    The NTTF further said: “On his return to Nigeria from Rio, Toriola will lead a two week training session for the 20 junior players invited to camp for selecting the team that will represent Nigeria at the World Junior Table Tennis Championships holding in Cape Town, South Africa in November/December this year.”