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 […]
via Ahead of ITTF World Juniors: NTTF To Unveil Team This Week — newfanzoneblog
Team Nigeria players were handed a tough draw at the 2016 ITTF Junior Circuit tagged Egypt Open, which serves off on Wednesday March 23 at the Cairo International Stadium.
The four-man team including the Coach, Dotun Omoniyi was sponsored to the tournament by the President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, who believes the young players should be exposed early to international tournaments.
In the boys’ cadet singles event, Abayomi Animasahun has been drawn in Group 14 alongside Egypt’s duo of Mohamed Abdelghany and Omar Allam, while Amadi Omeh is in Group 15 with Egypt’s Mohamed Elzaki and Karim Kandil.
In group 16, Nigeria’s Azeez Solanke and Sunday Akomolafe have been drawn in same group with Egypt’s pair of Yousef Saied and Mahmoud Mahdy.
In the mini cadet boys’ singles event, Animasahun will battle against Egypt’s duo of Ziad Elshawa and Amr Mahfouz in Group three.
In the junior boys’ grouping, the trio of Solanke, Akomolafe and Omeh will battle their Egyptian counterparts on Wednesday March 23 for places in the second round of the championship.
In his remarks before the team’s departure on Tuesday March 22, President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi charged the players to be good ambassadors and also make the country proud.
“I know you are already champions and you should also see this chance as an opportunity to prove yourself and ensure that you display the spirit of sportsmanship throughout the competition. I wish you well and try and give your best,” Oshodi said.
To expose the younger players to world class tournaments, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has confirmed that teenage sensation, Abayomi Animasahun will lead a four-man contingent to the 2016 ITTF Junior Circuit tagged Egypt Open.
The tournament which is one of the ITTF Junior Circuits serves off on March 23 to 27 at the Cairo Stadium in Egypt.
Abayomi, who was part of the ITTF Hopes Team to the 2015 ITTF World Cadet Challenge in Egypt will return to international action alongside Azeez Solanke, Sunday Akomolafe and Amadi Omeh and they are expected to compete in the cadet and junior events. The team will be coached by Dotun Omoniyi.
Apart from participating in the competition, the players will be using the tournament to warm up for this year’s ITTF Africa Junior Championship holding next month in Algeria.
Meanwhile, President of Egypt Table Tennis Federation (ETTF), Alaa Meshref said: the serene atmosphere would afford the players the chance to showcase their talents among themselves.
“There will be a huge number of Egyptians as we plan to hold the event in the biggest hall in Cairo Stadium which will house 12 competition tables”, said Meshref.
“It provides a chance for a large number of Egyptian players to participate and gives them the opportunity to test themselves internationally with foreign players”, added Meshref. “Entries have been received from Nigeria and Saudi Arabia as well as India, Portugal Jordan, Kuwait and Lebanon.”
“I am expecting the players to enjoy playing table tennis in a good environment”, continued Meshref. “Matches against Nigeria as an African competitor and Saudi Arabia as an Arab competitor will be interesting”,
Also, financial support has been received for the overall programme in Egypt. “Currently the Minister of Youth and Sports is really supporting the Egyptian Table Tennis Federation; until now we have got US$500,000 for preparation for Rio and qualification tournaments”, added Dr. Alaa Meshref.
“We receive good support for International tournaments; this is above the national yearly allowance the federation receives plus financial support to one foreign coach and one Egyptian national coach.”
“I hope everyone will have time to visit the Pyramids or the Ancient Museum”, said Meshref. “The Cairo stadium will host the tournament, we have had to move the venue from Hall Two to Hall One as it is larger; I hope all countries visiting Egypt enjoy the tournament.
Nigeria’s Abayomi Animasahun has been listed in the ITTF Hopes Team selected for this year’s World Cadet Challenge in Egypt.
The selection was based the performance at the just concluded ITTF Hopes Week and Challenge in China with the team made up of four boys and four girls that will be catered for by the world table tennis ruling body.
To be included in the team, Animasahun played second fiddle to United States’ Nikhil Kumar to be among the four-man boys’ team.
The teenager will be joined in the team by American Kumar, Singapore’s Yan Kai Andy Wong and New Zealand’s Nathan Xu.
In the girls’ team, winner of the ITTF Hopes Challenge, Egypt’s Sara Elhakem, India’s Diya Parag Chitale, Russia’s Elizabet Abraamian and El Salvador’s Melissa Mendoza in the girls’ team.
The 2015 ITTF World Cadet Challenge will be staged in the historic Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheik from Friday October 23 to 31.
The eight-man team will be supported by Butterfly with the selection meeting one of the main objectives of the ITTF Hopes Programme; that every member continent of ITTF is represented.
The winner of the Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles events at the Challenge Tournament, Nikhil Kumar and Sara Elhakem, gained automatic selection.
The remaining three places for boys and three places for girls were based on a combination of coaches’ assessment in Shanghai and results at the Challenge Tournament.
Evaluation by the coaches formed 65 per cent of the overall calculation. Items taken into consideration were speed and strength alongside a sense of feeling and ability to spin the ball.
In addition, the appraisal addressed attitude, mental strength, and adaptability in a match situation, training and potential.
Meanwhile, at the Challenge Tournament, the players were allocated points which were translated into a percentage, the winner of each of the Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles events receiving the maximum 35 per cent of the total mark.
Selection complete but most pertinently there are further names who will be in Sharm El-Sheik as part of the ITTF Hopes concept.
All the eight players must be accompanied by a coach recognised and approved by the relevant national association.
The players will attend a 14-day training camp at a venue yet to be determined prior to travelling to Egypt.
Now the next step is for national associations to endorse the relevant selections; the deadline date being Friday July 31.
Dejan Papic, the ITTF Education and Training Co-ordinator is the Mentor of the Hopes Team, Polona Cehovin Susin, the ITTF Education and Training Director, is the Team Manager.
Twelve year-old Abayomi Animasahun once again made Nigeria proud in far away Shanghai, China when he defied all odds to finish second in the boys’ singles of the 2015 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Hopes Challenge.
Animasahun, who has continued to compliment his feat at his first international competition at the Egypt Junior Open in June when he won the U-12 boys’ singles while he also finished among the top eight at the China Junior Open last week was the toast of ITTF officials who described the Ekiti State-born player as Africa’s prospect in the sport.
From the group stage, Animasahun made nonsense of some of the highly-rated players from Netherlands and Thailand to settle for second place having lost to United States’ Nikhil Kumar in one of the three matches in the preliminary round. But for placing second, he joined the American boy to qualify for the semifinal stage.
In the quarterfinal match, he continued his fine-form when he overcame New Zealand’s Nathan Xu 8-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5) to set up a semifinal tie against Belgium’s Adrian Rassefosse which he won. He finally set up a rematch against the American boy who had earlier defeated him in the group stage.
However, what befell Animasahun happened again in the final match as the American won the match at 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 to be crowned the boys’ champion.
But the performance of the young Nigerian attracted accolades from ITTF Education and Training Coordinator, Dejan Papic.
Animasahun attracted a lot of attention, first he managed to outlast Nathan Xu of New Zealandin long top spin exchanges. The surprise victory made him hot, he moved better in the semifinal against Belgium’s Adrian Rassefosse and played with increased confidence. But in final, he ran out of steam and American Kumar played better in each game. It seemed the fact that Kumar being a left hander was one of the deciding factors,” Papic said.
In the girls’ singles, it was Egypt’s Sara Elhakem emerged winner after beating Germany’s Sophie Kee in the final.
Animasahun’s compatriot, Muibat Bello failed to make it to the podium having finished in the eighth among the 16 players that competed in the event.
With four gold medals and three bronze medals Nigeria finished second behind host – Egypt at the ITTF World Junior Circuit (WJC) in Egypt.
Host and winner, finished ahead of others with seven gold while Slovenia won three gold medals to settle for third spot on the medal table.
Over 15 countries from Africa, Europe and Asia took part in the one-week championship held at the 6th October Hall in Cairo.
Nigeria made the second spot on the final day of the championship with Esther Oribamise, Abayomi Animasahun and Amadi Omeh claiming gold in the cadet and mini cadet event.
Animasahun defeated Egypt’s Yehia Saad 3-0 in the mini cadet boys’ singles final, while Amadi Omeh increased the gold to two when he also accounted for the 3-0 defeat of Egypt’s Marwan Abdelwahab in the cadet boys’ singles final.
The star player for Nigeria was Oribamise who had earlier failed to excel in the junior girls’ event but had to measure up in the cadet girls’ singles when she beat Egypt’s Rolan Hesham 3-0 to clinch the third gold for the West African giant.
In the cadet girls’ doubles, Oribamise partnered Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci to beat Egypt’s Roa Amro and Farida Badawy 3-0 to add to her medal haul in Cairo.
An elated Animasahun said: “I give God all the glory for being able to achieve this in my first international appearance. I listened to my coaches and I ensured I followed them and this is one of the reasons I was able to win a medal in Egypt. I am so happy for this medal. It was not easy at all during the five-day tournament. The competition gets much difficult as it progresses from one level to another, but I am happy that I achieved something.”
Oribamise however said: “I did not believe I could salvage anything in this competition because I was hopeless after a poor showing in the junior girls’ events. I did not also believe that it will end up in my favour in the cadet event. I thank God for my medals because it is through Him I was able to achieve this. I tried all through the competition to give a good account of myself because many people were looking out for me,” she said.
Despite not been able to clinch gold medals in the team events, Team Nigeria on Friday at the ITTF World Junior Circuit (WJC) in Egypt claimed four gold medals on the final day of the five-day tournament.
In the team event concluded on Tuesday, Nigeria settled for three medals in the junior boys and girls and cadet boys team event.
But the tiding changed on the final day as 12 year-old Abayomi Animasahun, Amadi Omeh and Esther Oribamise claimed gold medals in the cadet and mini- cadet singles and doubles events of the competition.
It was Animasahun who started the gold rush on Friday when he defeated Egypt’s Yehia Saad 3-0 in the mini cadet boys’ singles final.
Amadi Omeh increased the gold to two when he also accounted for the3-0 defeat of Egypt’s Marwan Abdelwahab in the cadet boys’ singles final.
Oribamise who failed to excel in the junior girls’ event measured up in the cadet girls’ singles when she beat Egypt’s Rolan Hesham 3-0 to clinch the third gold for the West African giant.
In the cadet girls’ doubles, Oribamise partnered Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci to beat Egypt’s Roa Amro and Farida Badawy 3-0 to add to her medal haul in Cairo.
Over 15 countries from Africa and Europe as well as Asia took part in the one-week tournament.
In Nigeria, the profile of Abayomi Animasahun and Muibat Bello has continued to soar and this has also made them benefit from various initiatives put together by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).
Now the teenagers have been named as Nigeria’s representatives at the ITTF Hopes Week holding in Shanghai, China later this month.
Also two of Nigeria’s greatest players, Segun Toriola and Funke Oshonaike will accompany the players to the training exercise.
An elated Animasahun who is taking part in the ITTF WJC in Egypt cannot hide his excitement about the trip said, “I am glad that I will be heading to China for the Hopes Week meet too. I am happy at this opportunity given to me by NTTF to meet the best young players like me from around the world”.
“I have overcome my fears of challenging the white skinned players. I used to think that I could not play against them. The Egypt Junior and Cadet Open has helped me to improve my confidence level and this will boast my chances in China,’’ he added.
In the mini-cadet event that Animasahun is campaigning in Egypt, he said: “I am targeting a gold medal in the singles, irrespective of players i am going to play against in the competition.”
Not knowing what lies ahead of them in China and like Animasahun, Muibat Bello is targeting the title in the competition aspect of the Hopes Week. I am eyeing a gold medal in the girls’ singles and i will ensure I do my best. I know it will be a tough one because of what I have heard and read about the Chinese players. I am going to watch out for them,” she said.
On the choice of Animasahun and Bello, NTTF President, Wahid Oshodi said: “They have been maintaining superb performances at national level and we will continue to assist them to improve their skills. And of course they need to attend more tournaments of this nature as we need to expose our young players promptly to the rigours of world-class tournaments’ style of play,” he added.
The ITTF Hopes Week holds in Shanghai, China from June 23 to July 5.
Nigeria failed to make it to the final of the junior boys and girls team events at the ongoing ITTF World Junior Circuit tagged Egypt Junior and Cadet Open holding at the 6th October Hall in Cairo.
What started like a good run was thwarted on Tuesday by host – Egypt in the semifinal of the team event after the Olasunkanmi Oginni and Esther Oribamise inspired Nigerian side fell 3-0 respectively in the boys and girls semifinal.
African Junior Champion, Egypt’s Aly Ghallaby inspired the North African team in the semifinal tie against Nigeria with a 3-0 rout, while Amira Yousry also deflated the Nigerian girls with a 3-0 bashing of Oribamise and Alimot Ayinla.
However, teenager sensations, Abayomi Animasahun and Michael Obayomi were in good form in their quarterfinal tie as they combined well to defeat the combination of Egypt and Tunisia 3-1 to qualify for the semifinal of the cadet boys’ team event.
Obayomi started the with 11-6, 11-9, 12-10 victory over Egypt’s Marwan Nader while Animasahun failed to increase the lead after he fell to Tunisia’s Youssef Ben Attia 7-11, 15-13, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8 to put the match at 1-1.
Obayomi and Animasahun combined very well in the doubles match to restore Nigeria’s lead with 4-11, 8-11, 7-11 win over the duo of Egypt’s Nader and Tunisia’s Ben Attia.
To affirm Nigeria’s victory, Animasahun rediscovered his form against Egypt’s Nader with 11-0, 12-10, 9-11, 8-11, 5-11 victory to give Nigeria a 3-1 win over the North Africans.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Mohammed Al-Naggar has lauded the quality of Nigerian players at the tournament.
“I will do my best so as to make the finals of the singles but I was really surprised with Nigeria’s style of play because they came out all fighting. They are motivated to play and fight hard on the table but I don’t see them as a threat”
“I was shocked about Nigeria’s performance and how they played. I was not expecting them to play this good and I must admit that Nigerian players are good players but we didn’t play well” he added.
In Nigeria, they were respected for their exceptional skills and this endeared them to the hearts of many. But they never had opportunity to showcase their talent in an international tournament but at the ongoing ITTF WJC tagged Egypt Junior and Cadet Open, debutants – 12 year-old Abayomi Animasahun and Muibat Bello believe coming to Egypt would add to their knowledge of the sport.
Before leaving Nigeria to Egypt on Sunday June 7, Animasahun was full of live from the Airport and even when he boarded the plane he was excited for this rare opportunity in a country of 200 million population.
When he landed at the Cairo International Airport, his face was brightened when he realized that he had arrived Egypt. At the hotel – Pyramids Park Resort, he conducted himself as he was eager to get to the venue.
His first game against Egypt’s Ammar Attia was a delightful encounter as the young Nigerian ensured that he did everything right to win the match at 3-0.
Abayomi Animasahun could not describe his feeling after tasting action at his first international tournament.
“For me to be here in Egypt, is a great privilege that I will forever cherish all my life. This is indeed the beginning of my career. It is a rare opportunity for me to be considered among the over 200 million people in Nigeria. It has always been my desire to play table tennis internationally and I am happy the dream finally came to pass. It is an honour to be here and I thank the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for the exposure” he said.
Like Animasahun, 11 year-old Muyibat Bello, who despite losing her first match in the tournament, coming to Egypt would afford her the chance to improve her game.
“I am here to improve on my skills as a player. I am also here to win medals as well as learn some new techniques from my opponents from other countries. After the competition I know I won’t go back home the same way I came because I would have acquired more knowledge. I hope to return to Nigeria to continue to work hard and build on the new things that I would have learnt from the tournament” she said.
A nervous 12 year-old Vivian Oku was still admiring the facilities when she played her first game which she lost. But the young Nigerian said:
“On the table I realise that I was shy and afraid and it affected me during my first match. After the game, the coach has tutored me on how to overcome this stage fright and he advised me to focus on the table without looking into my opponent’s eyes” she said.
Nigeria yesterday lived up to her rating as the boys’ team was in excellent form at the ongoing ITTF World Junior Circuit (WJC) tagged Egypt Junior and Cadet Open with an emphatic win over Qatar and Iraq.
The boys’ team led by Olasunkanmi Oginni were in superb form against the Qataris as his combination with Nurudeen Hassan dazed the highly-rated Gulf team with a 3-1 win.
Few hours later, the team returned to the table to deal with Iraq with a 3-0 rout to set up a final group clash against Egypt Team B.
Also, the girls’ team inspired by Esther Oribamise showed what to expect in the competition as they pummeled Egypt’s Team D 3-1 to record their first group win in the junior girls’ event.
It was mixed fortunes for Nigeria in the cadet event, as the boys’ team spearheaded by Abayomi Animasahun wasted no time in dismissing Egypt Team D 3-0 while the Nigerian girls’ team led by Muibat Bello and Vivian Oku fell 3-0 to Egypt Team D.
Meanwhile, the participating teams have commended the organizers, Egypt Table Tennis Federation (ETTF) for providing world class facilities at the stadium while bemoaning the fact that the low turn-out of fans is taking the glamour from the championship.
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has named a 10-man team for this month’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Junior Circuit (WJC) holding in Cairo, Egypt.
The team will be led by African Youth Games champion, Olasunkanmi Oginni as well as national junior champion, Esther Oribamise.
Others in the boys’ team are Lagos Open revealation, Nurudeen Hassan; national junior champion, Amadi Omeh; cadet champion, Abayomi Animasahun as well as southpaw Michael Obayomi.
For the girls’ team, Oribamise will be joined by Ajoke Ojomu, Alimot Ayinla, Vivian Oku and cadet champion, Muibat Bello.
The team is at present tuning up for the competition at the National Stadium in Surulere under the watchful eyes of Italy-based Michael Oyebode and Bode Ajayi.
The team is expected to depart aboard an Egypt Airline flight on Sunday June 7, 2015.
Over 14 countries including Nigeria will compete at the one-week tournament holding at the ultra modern October 6 Hall in Giza, Cairo.
Other teams expected at the championship, which serves off on Monday June 8 are Algeria, Botswana, India, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Romania, Slovakia, Togo, Tunisia and host – Egypt.
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