All is now set for the 2017 Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) national open cum Commonwealth Games trials holding on December 11 to 16 at the National Stadium in Lagos. According to the Assistant Secretary of NTTF, Adedayo Adeosun, athletes would compete for honours in 18 events including para athletes who will compete in eight […]
via NTTF Set For National Open, Commonwealth Trials — newfanzoneblog
Sola Oyetayo and Cecilia Otu-Akpan claimed the singles titles at the final of the maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Championships held at the Indoor Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos. National junior sensation, Ajoke Ojomu was also adjudged the most valuable female player of the competition while other awardees were also honoured […]
Two of Nigeria’s most respected table tennis stars, Segun Toriola and Olufunke Oshonaike will lead Nigeria’s nine-man team to the 2015 African Games holding in Congo Brazzaville.
Toriola, who is Africa’s most decorated player, Toriola and Oshonaike will both be making their seventh appearance at the game since their debut at Cairo 1991 in Egypt.
According to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) the nine-man team was selected based on their ranking coupled with series of trails organized in Lagos in the last three weeks.
Toriola is the most successful player in the history of African Games having won the men’s singles title four consecutive times in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007.
Like Toriola, Oshonaike is also the most successful female player in the history of the games having claimed the women’s singles title twice in 1999 and 2003 while she was runner’s up in 1991 and 2011 will be making her seventh appearance at the multi-sports championships.
Toriola, a six-time Olympian will be joined in the men’s team by 2014 ITTF Star Player, Aruna Quadri, Bode Abiodun, Seun Ajetunmobi and Ojo Onaolapo.
Besides Quadri and Ajetunmobi who had featured at the previous African Games, Abiodun and Onaolapo will be making their debut at the games
Oshonaike will spearhead the female team which include African Games women’s singles defending champion, Edem Offiong, Cecilia Otu-Akpan and Rasheedat Ogundele.
Also, Offiong and Otu-Akpan will be making their fourth appearance at the games having debuted at Abuja 2003 in Nigeria. The duo is also the women’s doubles defending champions having retained the title they won in Algiers 2007 at the 2011 edition in Mozambique.
Ogundele, who is only debutant in the female team returned to the national team having had a stint with the team to various continental and international tournaments.
In 2013, Edem Offiong fought her way to the final but she could not finish up against her compatriot, Cecilia Otu-Akpan who beat her to the title. Against she worked to the quarterfinal of the women’s singles but she met her waterloo against Egypt’s Dina Meshref.
However, when the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour, Lagos Open serves off on March 10, Offiong is optimistic that same fate will not befall her this year.
From the start of this year, things have not been auguring well for her but what happened at the last ITTF Africa Senior Championship in Cairo would not prevent her from excelling. Offiong promises that the title will remain in Nigeria this time around.
“I am well prepared for this tournament because I have it in mind that I must do better this year. After the disappointing outing in Cairo, I returned to Nigeria and I rested for a week and since then I have been training hard in order to ensure that I make it to the podium this year. I am in good shape and I hope the home support will help me this year especially against the Egyptians and Portuguese Chinese-born player,” Offiong said.
The player who plies her trade in the Portuguese league said: “I know a lot of people have been talking about the quality of the Egyptian player but I want to let them know that the Chinese-born Portuguese is indeed a serious threat because she is the number one female player in the Portuguese league and she is a very strong player.”
Offiong, who made it to round of 16 at the 2014 Spanish Open in Almeria said she hopes to use the Lagos Open title to prepare herself for the this year’s German and Spanish Opens.
“I admits that it is not going to be easy like I expect because for anybody to clinch the title this year, such player must be at her best. Any player that is coming to Nigeria must understand that the atmosphere is always different from anywhere in the world because the fans are always there to cheer the host players and visitors must be ready to face this as well. I am sure this will work in my favour,” she added.
From being a runner’s up in 2013, Offiong was edged out in the quarterfinal of the women’s singles by Egypt’s Dina Meshref and the Nigerian believes this would not repeat itself again this time as she is ready to halt the dominance of the Egyptians in Lagos.
The maiden edition of the end-of-the-year Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) organized top 16 Championship tagged President’s Cup serves off today (Wednesday) December 17 at the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
The N2m prize money two-day tournament has players within and outside the country competing for top spot.
Over 48 matches will be played with foreign-based duo of Seun Ajetunmobi and Olaide Atinuke competing against local stars like Rashidat Ogundele, Kazeem Makanjuola as well as junior sensations – Tosin Oribamise, Ajoke Ojomu, Alimot Ayinla and Onyinyechi Mbah taking part in the championship.
The matches will be played in a round robin format with the top two players progressing to the next stage of the championship. The top eight players will also be drawn into two groups of four each with the top two advancing to the semifinal stage.
Every player listed for the competition will be rewarded with cash while the star prize is N250, 000. For the award, the player of the year as well as the young player of the year will be honoured at the colourful event in the presence of dignitaries.
As part of its efforts to inspire the players to aim higher, eight awards will be handed out to deserving individuals in 2014. These awards are senior player of the year (male and female), junior player of the year (male and female), cadet player of the year (male and female), coach of the year and technical official of the year.
As part of efforts to reward players, coaches and officials in 2014, eight awards have been listed by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) during the end-of-the-year top 16 tournament tagged President’s Cup.
The two-day tournament has players home and abroad competing for the N2m prize money at stake.
Eight awards will be handed out to deserving individuals in 2014 and the awards are:
senior player of the year (male and female)
junior player of the year (male and female)
cadet player of the year (male and female)
coach of the year and technical official of the year.
In a release by the organizers, foreign-based duo of Seun Ajetunmobi and Olaide Atinuke have been listed among the top 16 players expected to feature at the tournament holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Also, Lagos Classics champion, Cecilia Otu-Akpan will also be part of the tournament while former junior national champion, Janet Effiom will be competing against other top players in the competition.
Also, four junior players – Tosin Oribamise, Ajoke Ojomu, Alimot Ayinla and Onyinyechi Mbah will be battling for the top spot against senior players at the championship.
In the list of participants released at the weekend by the organizers, the quartet who just returned from the just concluded World Junior Championship in China has been drawn against some top players in their various groups.
Oribamise, whose performance this year has been encouraging at national level, will battle for the two slots in the group alongside, Portugal-based Atinuke, Bose Odusanya, Kehinde Akinyinka and former Asoju Oba champion, Tolu Durosimi-Etti.
One of the most improved players for this year, Ayinla will confront former junior champion, Janet Effiom, Fatimo Kazeem and Aminat Fashola. Ayinla’s form has made her one of the formidable players that may be promoted to the senior level.
Abuja-based Ojomu will clash against Lagos Classics champion, Cecilia Otu-Akpan, Taiwo Williams and Moji Ajibike.
In her group, Mbah has been handed the toughest task as she will slug it out with 2014 Asoju Oba Cup champion, Fatimo Bello; National Sports Festival champion, Rashidat Ogundele, Funke Hassan and returnee, Halimat Hussein.
The matches will be played in a round robin format with the top two players progressing to the next stage of the championship. The top eight players will also be drawn into two groups of four each with the top two advancing to the semifinal stage.
Every player listed for the competition will be rewarded with cash while the star prize is N250, 000. For the award, the player of the year as well as the young player of the year will be honoured at the colourful event in the presence of dignitaries.
Nigerian pair of Aruna Quadri and Funke Oshonaike overcame Northern Ireland’s duo of A. Robinson and A. Givan 3-0 to set up a clash against Singapore on Thursday.
On Friday, Nigerian players will be in action in the mixed doubles, doubles and singles events of table tennis.
In the women’s singles, the trio of Edem Offiong, Cecilia Otu-Akpan and Ganiat Ogundele had an easy passage into the main draw (round of 64) but they will face a Herculean task when they begin their campaigns with Offiong pitched against England’s Joanna Drinkhall while Otu-Akpan will battle Singapore’s Taiwei Feng.
Ogundele will tackle India’s Shamini Kumaresan.
The men will also taste action as the main draw of the singles event serves off on Friday with the trio of Quadri, Segun Toriola and Bode Abiodun battling it out for the title.
Meanwhile, Offiong believes the vital win recorded by the men’s team against Indian in the team event would spur them on in the competition.
“Our guys did really well. We’re very happy with the bronze medal. I’ve played so many international tournaments. I’ve played in the world tour, the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, and the world championships. Nigerian table tennis is in a good place right now. It’s very good,” she said.
After causing the biggest upset to earn Nigeria the bronze in the men’s team event of table tennis at the ongoing Glasgow Commonwealth Games, former junior sensation, Ojo Onaolapo believes the victory over India’s Sharath Achanta has boosted his confidence to tackle any opponent in Scotland.
Onaolapo became the toast of fans at the venue of the third place match after the young Nigerian stunned the Indian star rated 44 in the world 3-1 to earn Nigeria its first Commonwealth Games table tennis medal in eight years.
An elated Ondo State-born player said: ““I’m excited, I’m happy to win; in table tennis if you are dominant you can beat anybody.”
He added: “We wanted to win a medal, nobody expected us to; we played them in the bronze medal match four years ago in New Delhi and lost.”
Also, the inspirational captain of Team Nigeria, Segun Toriola was a happy man that he had a medal to show for his last outing at the games.
“I’m so happy because it’s my last Commonwealth Games before I retire”, said the now 39 year-old Toriola.
He however expressed disappointment over his inability to beat the Indian star in his first match. “I felt so sad and worried after I lost my match; it would have been a great start if I’d have won and been more relaxed; in the doubles I just tried to stay relaxed.
“It was the match of the contest, it was the most important match”, added Toriola. “Doubles can be strange, it was 50:50.”
Meanwhile, the preliminary round of the singles’ event began on Tuesday with Nigeria’s trio of Toriola, Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun drawing bye to the main draw (round of 64).
In the women’s singles, the trio of Edem Offiong, Cecilia Otu-Akpan and Ganiat Ogundele had to compete for places in the main draw.
After taking part in the just concluded International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour and African Top 16 Cup, the final phase of camping for this month’s Commonwealth Games resumed just as the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has named a strong ten-man team for the championship holding in Glasgow, Scotland.
Virtually all the players aiming to be part of the team for the Commonwealth Games took part in the two-in-one tournament held in Lagos last week.
To complete the list of the team for the games, NTTF organized a two-day trial for the players to select the final four that would join the already listed six-man team that were part of the team to the last World Championship in Tokyo, Japan.
At the end of the trial, Ganiat Ogundele and her sibling, Rashidat made the women team, while Portugal-based duo of Bode Abiodun and Jide Ogidiolu made the cut for the men team.
According to NTTF Secretary General, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, the players were selected based on their present form and this was to ensure that Nigeria present a formidable team that would compete for medals against top teams like Singapore, England and India.
“We want to ensure that we give all the players equal opportunity to make the team and that is why we decided to organize the trials. So for us, we are already in camp before the tournaments last week and now we have returned to camp to ensure that we give our players the opportunity to train well before the departing the country for a two-week training tour of Italy,” she said.
The current African champion and ITTF World Cup-bound Aruna Quadri topped the list of players that will hoist Nigeria’s flag in Glasgow.
He will be joined by experienced and one of the continent’s most decorated players, Segun Toriola. Toriola who guided the team to a god outing at the World Championship in Japan will captain the team, while former junior sensation, Ojo Onaolapo will also be part of the team. Others are Bode Abiodun and Jide Ogidiolu.
Germany-based Funke Oshonaike will captain the female team while other members are Edem Offiong, Cecilia Otu-Akpan, Ganiat Ogundele and Rashidat Ogundele.
The team is expected to depart for Italy next week for the training tour where they will move to Scotland for the games.
Team Nigeria
Funke Oshonaike
Edem Offiong
Cecilia Otu-Akpan
Ganiat Ogundele
Rashidat Ogundele
Aruna Quadri
Segun Toriola
Ojo Onaolapo
Bode Abiodun
Jide Ogidiolu
To acquaint countries about the staging of the 2014 Lagos World Tour, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on Thursday released the official prospectus for the tournament holding in June this year.
The world table tennis ruling body has also uploaded the prospectus on its website for the 214 national associations.
According to the ITTF Director of Competitions, Karl Jindrak, the Lagos World Tour tagged Nigeria Open is one of the Challenge Series listed by ITTF on its 2014 calendar.
Players hoping to be part of the championship are expected to register through their national associations, while the preliminary
entries commence on May 10 with the final entries for singles on May 24.
There will be a charge of $150 cancellation fee for each player cancelled after the entry deadline. This period starts on the day of closing the final entries, one month before the event. These cancellation amounts will be added to the association’s invoice to be paid together with the hospitality costs to the organizers either by bank transfer or by cash on site,” Jindrak said.
He added: “Associations with pending payments of cancellation fee will not be allowed to enter any World Tour events as long as the payment is not fulfilled.”
Four events – men and women singles as well as U-21 men and women singles will be competed at the four-day championship holding at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
The total prize money for the tournament is $39,700 with men singles winner carting home $5,000.
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) organizes the tournament with support from the Lagos State Government.
Egypt’s Omar Assar who beat Nigeria’s Segun Toriola to emerge champion at the maiden edition of the tournament tagged Lagos Classics has promised to return to Lagos to defend his title, while Cecilia Otu-Akpan who defied all odds to lift the title in the women event will be part of the Nigerian team to the World Championship in Tokyo, Japan.
For the first time in recent time, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has included teenage sensation, Esther Tosin Oribamise in its 10-man team for next month’s World Team Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Oribamise, 12, was part of the Team Nigeria to the last World Junior Championships in Rabat, Morocco and a member of the African team to the 2013 World Cadet Challenge.
In the team list released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Oribamise will join her compatriot s – Funke Oshonaike, Edem Offiong, Cecilia Otu-Akpan and Ganiat Olatunde-Aruna in the women’s event while veteran Segun Toriola will lead the men’s team alongside Portugal-based duo of Aruna Quadri and Seun Ajetunmobi.
Also listed in the men’s team are home-based duo of Ojo Onaolapo and Kazeem Makanjuola.
According to NTTF, the inclusion of Oribamise became necessary in order to expose the players early as well as to allow her to mix-up with the experienced players in the team.
Also, ITTF has seeded Egypt ahead of Nigeria in the seeding for the championship as the North Africa are rated 32 and 24 in the women and men seeding. However, Nigeria men and women teams are rated 34 and 39 respectively and they will be campaign in division two of the competition.
Meanwhile, over 125 countries have been listed for the tournament and according to ITTF; this is an improvement from the 118 nations that featured at the 2012 edition in Dortmund, Germany.
No less than 121 men’s and 100 women’s teams will compete in the prestigious tournament which starts in Tokyo on Monday April 28 to Monday May 5, 2014.
The draw for the Championship Division, Division Two and Division Three in each of the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events will take place at 1.00pm local time on Saturday March 15 at the TV Tokyo Studios (No. 1 studio Tranomon 4-3-12, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 105-8012).
Also the draws for Division Four and Division Five in each of the Men’s Team and Women’s Team events will be made; the proposed time is 11.00am on Saturday, 26th April 2014.
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