At 43, Olufunke Oshonaike is not giving up on her plan of setting a new continental record as the first African female athlete to attend seven Olympic Games. Since making her debut at the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996 in United States, Oshonaike has represented Nigeria at six Olympic Games and she is poised on […]
via Nigeria’s Oshonaike Not Giving Up On Seventh Olympics Appearance — finixsportsblog
Olufunke Oshonaike reclaimed her long lost African title at the ITTF African Senior Championships after beating Egypt’s Dina Meshref 4-2 in the final of the women’s singles. The Egyptian has been unbeaten in the last two years, but Oshonaike with her experienced confused the young North African to emerge as the new continent number one […]
via ITTF African Senior Championships: Oshonaike Reclaims African Title — newfanzoneblog
President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi believes with more support from the National Sports Commission (NSC) coupled with the efforts being made by the federation, more stars like 2014 ITTF Star Player, Aruna Quadri can be groomed to become world beaters. Excerpts
What is your assessment of 2015?
I think 2015 for table tennis was quite good in terms of what the Federation and players achieved taking into consideration the financial constraints that we faced. The lack of funding generally meant we could not attend some important events like the African juniors in Mauritius and the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in India. But overall Taking into consideration our performances at the events we attended we did quite well and we continue to move in the right direction.
What are the objectives in 2016?
I think our focus in 2016 as in 2015 is that we must continue to develop the junior and cadet players. We must give our most talented young players the right atmosphere for them to grow. This of course means giving them the best coaching and affording them the opportunity to play in tournaments internationally so we can assess how well they are doing against the best young players in the world. We have done quite well in this regard in the last two years but there are a lot more gifted players all over the country and we must do our best to discover and harness them. We hope to be able to create new tournaments outside Lagos and Abuja. If we can find the right partnerships with the private sector this will assist greatly in boosting the spread of the game all over the country. It is also important to get the best of our senior players playing on the world tour and assist them to find the funding to ensure that they can train in the best academies in Europe and Asia with the top players in the world. We must continue to expose our coaches alongside the players. This is an area that is very critical. We must develop our Nigerian coaches but they must also be willing to accept that they need the knowledge. The sport of table tennis is one that is developing so quickly. The styles have moved on from what we know in Nigeria. It is faster and more physically demanding. Our coaches need to take this on board.
What has been the challenge of table tennis?
Lack of funding is the major problem we have. We have designed programmes for our junior and senior players but we just can’t find enough money to back up our plans. Where we can’t even get funding to attend many continental events we will naturally start to lag behind other countries. It is very difficult to operate in this conditions and gives one a lot to think about with regards to the way other sports bar football are being funded in this country. It is amusing when the sports loving public ask questions about how well we are doing. The question really should be how well are we being equipped to do well. I must continuously thank some of our board members and our friends in table tennis who personally support the players to buy equipment and attend tournaments. Without them table tennis would be dead in Nigeria. The Lagos State Government has also been quite supportive in terms of putting their infrastructure at our disposal and it is support like this that we need. We need good consistent funding to achieve our goals.
This is an Olympic year and what is going to be the preparation of the team for Brazil?
As we speak now two players (Aruna Quadri and Funke Oshonaike) have qualified for the Olympics and we expect Segun Toriola and Edem Offiong to qualify at the Qualifying tournament in Sudan. Only two male and two female players can qualify from each country. The players working with their Coaches have already sent in their proposed programmes but it will come down to money. The 2016 Olympic table tennis tournament is structured in such a way that we realistically can aspire for a medal because the gap between players like Aruna, Segun and the best Chinese players is quite marginal. Playing well on your day with the right preparation I am confident that we can beat anybody in a straight knockout competition. You have to remember that Aruna was the world player of the year in 2014. He has a big reputation and he is one of the strongest players in the world as we speak. With the right preparation which really means support from the NSC and Ministry of Sports we can do well. The Schlaeger academy (the foremost table tennis academy in the world) in Austria has offered us their facilities including Coaching at a heavily subsidised rate to assist our players and Coaches both at the senior and junior levels. This kind of training programme is what makes the difference between champions and also rans. I hope we will be able to fund it.
There seems to be falling standard of female players and what is the plan of NTTF to address this?
This is a problem that has been around for a long while. We have not been replacing our top players and not enough female players are coming through. Currently our junior and cadet programme is designed for boys and girls. I am sure in a few years we will see the fruits of this programme. If you take out our top eight to ten female players, the standard falls short of what we require for players to represent the country. Our strongholds for female table tennis are mainly Cross Rivers Lagos Oyo and Ogun. We need them to assist the federation by helping us discover more raw talents that we can then groom. But the truth is that these states themselves need more support in terms of equipment and funding. It is a problem but the Federation is doing its best to address it. Furthermore it was pleasant to see our number one player Edem Offiong returning to magnificent form at the All African Games alongside the old war horse Funke Oshonaike. They serve as inspiration to the younger ones coming. We also need to work with someone like Funke and other older players who have achieved so much in ensuring that they impart their knowledge to the younger ones coming up.
Funke is going for her sixth Olympics and that is such sterling effort which we hope we can use to galvanize and courage the younger ones. We also need to encourage people like Richard Edem our top female Coach from Cross Rivers state to continue to produce the much needed talent. People like this also need to be encouraged by the Federal Government when granting national honors and awards. These coaches and players who work hard at the grassroots and discover players who have brought honour to our country over and over again are the people who truly deserve these awards. When the National sports Commission and Mjnistry of Sports are forwarding names it would be good if they remember that there are other sports apart from football. These other sports are the ones that contribute to Nigeria’s success at major continental and world multi medal sporting events. It really is a sad commentary that so many great sportsmen and women have been overlooked in the award of Honours
What are the major tournaments in 2016?
Well for us the major tournaments are the AFRICA Top 16 which serves as Africa’s qualifier for the World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers in February in Sudan. The World team Championships in Malaysia in February will take on greater importance this year because the highest ranked African team would likely take Africa’s only slot in the Olympic team event. We are currently neck and neck with Egypt so we need to play very well there. Of course the 4th edition of the Lagos (Nigeria) International Open holds in May before the players go into their final phase of training for the Olympics. There is also the African Championships later in the year. Also in line with our focus we intend to host the National Senior Junior and Cadet Championship at the end of the first quarter of the year so the best players in this tournaments can earn slots in the Lagos International Open.
There are also quite a number of junior and cadet tournaments in Africa and the Middle East which I feel we must take our best young players to so we can further their development. It is a busy year. On the home front we have to find the funds to continue with our much needed developmental programmes and the National League. It is through this events that we can find the talent that our sport needs. We must also find a way to support the states in the areas of development especially at the school level.
With the end of the 2015 Tennis season, we at Newfanzone.com take a look at what happened during the course of the year in Nigeria, and also at the ATP and WTA levels.
NIGERIA
Unlike the amazing year we had in 2014 when it comes to Table Tennis, this year performance from our athletes was a bit below expectation.
In the Month of March, we had the ITTF World Tour (Lagos Open) at the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall where big names on the Continent such as Omar Assar, Dina Meshref, Aruna Quadri, Ojo Onaolapo, Funke Oshonaike, Shagdy Magdy, Offiong Edem, and also Portuguese Stars such as Jieni Shao, Andre & Diogo Silva participated in the tournament. It was quite a poor outing for team Nigeria, where our only win came from the Men’s double final courtesy Aruna Quadri and Makanjuola Kazeem. The Lagos Open also showed that the future of Nigeria Table Tennis is promising if our administrators manage the crop of young players in the ranks such as Hassan Nurudeen, Muibat Bello & Ayobami Animashaun.
The All African games also showed that apart from Egypt, Congo has also grown as a real threat and are ready to challenge Nigeria come 2016 when it comes to playing tennis on the table with the likes of Wang Jinan, Yuheng Li & Han Xing.
Team Nigeria had a fairly good showing at the AAG, winning the men’s team event and other medals.
In Lawn tennis, we saw the return of the Governor’s cup in which 38 countries participated in. The farthest Nigeria could go in the competition was the Quarter-Finals where Chris Paul fell at the hands of South-African Lloyd Harris 6-1,6-0. The competition which took place at the Lagos lawn tennis club in Onikan was won by Antal Van Der Dium ( Male) and Conny Perrin (Female). The final also witnessed the presence of the Minister of Youths and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalong and the Governor of Lagos State Akinwunmi Ambode.
There were a few Positives to take home this year from Nigerian Tennis (especially Table Tennis) and with the necessary funds hopefully we would have a better 2016 when it comes to playing tennis either on the Table, Grass, Clay or Hard court.
The WTA Season
The WTA season this year was quite one sided as the big players were not good enough to stop Serena Williams from winning 3 Grand Slam titles (Australian Open, Roland Garros & Wimbledon). The American lost 3 games out of 53 which further proves how consistent she has been throughout this year.
World No.2 Simona Halep was disappointing this season winning just 3 WTA titles. Halep could not even take her opportunity when Serena was beaten at the US Open and her absence during the season ending WTA finals as she was beaten by Flavia Pennetta and Agnieszka Radwanska respectively. Maybe Halep needs to change her Coach in Darren Cahill as she seem not to be getting it when it comes to the Slams.
Spaniard Garbine Muguruza has had a wonderful 2015 and she would hope she takes this sort of form next year especially during the Slams.
The 22 year old had a blissful campaign this season as she ended the year as world No.3 (Youngest Player in the top 10) behind “Miss Consistent” Serena Williams and Simona Halep.
Muguruza has emerged top pick to represent Spain in the forthcoming Olympics and she would also team up with Carla Suarez Navarro and Rafael Nadal in the doubles.
Sharapova would need to be fit if she wants to have a go at any Grand Slam title this year. The former French Open Champion is still a winner any day, but she needs to be consistent and hope to be injury free come next season.
Top Performers
Serena Williams
Flavia Pennetta
Garbine Muguruza
Agnieszka Radwanska
Venus Williams
FLOPS
Simona Halep
Maria Sharapova
Petra Kvitova
Caroline Wozniacki
Player To Watch Next Season
Garbine Muguruza – The young Spaniard was very fantastic last season as she got to the final of Wimbledon which she lost to Serena Williams. Muguruza won WTA Singles title in this past season, and certainly the 22 year old would be eyeing a Grand Slam title come next season. With the epileptic form of her compatriots,apart from Serena,trust Muguruza to go all the way come next season.
The ATP Season
Novak ruled the Men tennis in this outgoing season with fantastic displays winning three Grand Slam titles in the process, finishing the year as No.1 and ranked 5th for the all time weeks at world No.1 moving past Rafael Nadal and John McEnroe in the process.
The Serb knows how to turn up in the Slams and how to defeat the big boys when it matters most. One sad thing on Novak’s mind this season would be his loss on clay to Swiss, Stanislas Wawrinka after he had defeated “The Master Of Clay” Rafael Nadal in the Semis. Novak would no doubt put in much effort to see if he could win that much coveted Roland Garros title come next season.
British No.1 Andy Murray, had had a fairly good season ending the year as the 2nd best player in the world. Murray who helped Britain win the Davis cup title after many years would have his sights at the Olympics in Rio come next season. Andy kept his manager Amelie Mauresmo at the end of this season which shows that he was satisfied with the level of performance he showed this season. Barring any injuries,Andy would give Novak a fight come next season.
Roger Federer also had a decent season, though the Swiss would still want to win a Grand Slam title. It would be very difficult for Federer come next season with the form of the two players ahead of him in the rankings. On his day, the Swiss Master who became the 3rd player in the Open era to win 1000 Grand Slam titles, would defeat any player that come up against him.
Rafael Nadal would hope to forget this past season as injuries hampered him from competing at his peak. The Spaniard would sure look forward to his favorite surface (Clay) as a great chance to win yet another Grand Slam title come next year.
Top Performers
Novak Djokovic
Andy Murray
Roger Federer
Stanislas Wawrinka
Kevin Anderson
Flops
Rafael Nadal
Kei Nishikori
David Ferrer
Jo Wilfred Tsonga.
Player To Watch Next Season
Stanislas Wawrinka – The Swiss international just has a way of doing his business quietly and getting results. Wawrinka won Roland Garros this year and has been consistent all year long making the Semis of Grand Slam tournaments and also winning ATP titles. He would definitely be a dark horse next year in any Grand Slam competition and trust the Swiss not to disappoint.
The tennis has been fantastic this season from the local athletes to their foreign compatriots and we at Newfanzone.com believes 2016 would be a much better year where new discoveries would be made especially when it comes to Nigeria.
Ademola Adejuwo
Nigeria will not only have Table Tennis players in action at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, two of Nigeria’s foremost umpires, John Peters and Cecilia Arinye have been confirmed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) as match officials for the multi-sports championship in Brazil.
With Aruna Quadri and Funke Oshonaike already confirmed for the Rio Olympic Games, the certified ITTF blue badge umpires, Peters and Arinye will be among the 47 umpires listed by the world table tennis ruling body for the tournament.
Globally, few umpires make it to the Olympic Games but again this has confirmed Nigeria’s relevance in table tennis with Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria being the only countries in Africa with officials at the games.
Peters, who is among the longest serving umpires in Africa, will officiate at the Olympic Games while Arinye, who is the Director of Sports, University of Lagos will be in action at the Paralympic Games.
The duo have joined the list of few umpires in the world to make it to the Olympic while the late Patience Ikeme-Iwuno was among the four umpires selected from Africa for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Peters, who started his officiating career in the 1970s became an international umpire in 1980 and he has officiated at various African Games including the 2015 edition in Congo Brazzaville, he was also at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland while Arinye, an ex-international is also an experienced umpire who has officiated in various international tournaments across the globe was also part of the umpire team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Besides Peters and Arinye, Algeria’s duo of Mouhssene Yahia-Cherif and Abdellah Boudjehem will handle proceedings at the Olympic and Paralympic Games respectively while Egypt’s pair of Magdy Edriss and ElSaied Ragab will be on duty as well in Brazil.
According to the President, African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy, the listing of umpires from Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria again confirmed the giant stride made by the these countries in terms of officiating.
For the list of umpires for Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Africa (3), Europe (7), Asia (6), Latin America (3), North America (2) and Oceania (1) totalling 22 while for the Paralympic Games, Africa (3), Asia (7), Europe (8), Latin America (3), North America (2) and Oceania (2) making it 25 officials.
However, South Africa’s Rodrique Volkwyn is the Deputy Referee for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has expressed shock over the untimely demise of former national junior star, Azeez Ogunlade, who died on Sunday after a brief illness.
According to the Secretary General of NTTF, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, the passing on of the 20 year-old Ogunlade was disheartening as the player had started playing his way into the senior national team after a successful stint as a cadet cum junior player.
“It is shocking that Ogunlade had to die at this time because he has getting himself closer to the senior national team. His death came as shock to everybody in the table tennis family and we are yet to get over his demise. As a cadet and junior player, he had represented the country at international tournaments starting with the 2008 African Junior Championship in Egypt and his last international outing was at the last African Club Championship in Cameroun this year where he represented Union Bank,” she said.
The scribe who was part of the team to Tournament in Cameroon described the late Ogunlade as a humble and determined athlete whose passion for the game cannot be underestimated. “The country will surely miss this young player and we sympathise with his family and all table tennis family in Nigeria, African and the world that such a player could depart at a prime age,” she added.
Also, a saddened Germany-based Funke Oshonaike wrote on her Facebook wall yesterday, “Can somebody please tell me this is not true! Just read that my table tennis brother Ogunlade Azeez Akinkunmi is dead! I’m so very sad, sick, confused and very empty right now.. Oh my God , I cannot believe this oooooo
Italy-based Michael Oyebode wrote, “This is so shocking to me, what happened to you Ogunlade Azeez Akinkunmi? I know you can’t tell us, but God is the judge over everything! I’m totally speechless and profoundly sad, rest in perfect peace.”
In 2009, it was Ogunlade’s heroic display that gave Nigeria the cadet title at the 18th African Junior Table Tennis Championship, the Egypt Open.
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has called up 20 players to resume camp for the 11th All Africa Games holding in Congo Brazzaville.
According to chief coach, Nosiru Bello, the invited players were selected based on their performance in some of the international and national competitions in the last one year.
Africa’s most decorated table tennis player, Segun Toriola and 2014 ITTF Star Player, Aruna Quadri top the list of 10 male players invited to camp.
Also, Seun Ajetunmobi, who has been out of the national team in the last two years will be returning to the team as one of the invited players.
Other male players include Ojo Onaolapo, Kazeem Makanjuola, Olaniran Boboye, Olawale Fagbamila, Hammed Hafeez and junior sensations, Nurudeen Hassan and Olasunkanmi Oginni.
The female players will be led by Germany-based Funke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong, while others are Cecilia Otu-Akpan, Janet Effiom, Rashidat Ogundele, Bosede Odusanya as well as junior sensations, Tosin Oribamise, Ajoke Ojomu and Halimot Ayinla.
“All the invited players have proven themselves in most of these competitions and that is why we have invited them to be part of the camp and we hope some of these junior players can learn from the experienced ones so that they can also be warming themselves into the senior team. We are not inviting anybody without proven records. We hope that at the end of the day, the best will be selected for the country,” Bello said.
10 players made up of five male and five female will make the final list to AAG.
At the 2011 edition of the multi-sports championship in Mozambique, Nigeria finished second behind Egypt with three gold medals while Egypt won four to emerge as the overall best team for the first time since 1999 that Nigeria has been dominating the table tennis event.
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.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has confirmed Nigeria and 99 others for the World Championships in the Chinese city of Suzhou, China, serving off on April 26 to May 3.
A total of 310 men and 238 women players will compete at the eight-day event with capacity crowd anticipated.
Also three African players have been listed among the seeded players for the tournament with Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri topping the list of players seeded from the continent and he is seeded 30.
Also seeded from Africa in the men’s singles is Egypt’s Omar Assar ranked 32 for the tournament while the only female player in Africa seeded is Egypt’s Dina Meshref listed in number 62 for the competition.
In the list of Nigerian players confirmed for the championship, Quadri will be joined in the men’s singles by Segun Toriola, Ojo Onaolapo and Kazeem Makanjuola, while in the women’s team, Edem Offiong, Janet Effiom and Germany-based Funke Oshonaike.
According to the world table tennis ruling body, the seeding is based on the World Ranking lists released on Wednesday April 1.
China’s Ma Long heads the Men’s Singles order of merit, being followed by his three compatriots Xu Xin, Zhang Jike, and Fan Zhendong. The third on the list but if one player enjoys the big stage it is Zhang Jike, the Men’s Singles winner in Rotterdam in 2011 and two years ago in Paris.
Both Ma Long and Xu Xin have occupied the top spot on the Men’s World Rankings during the past year and more but in a World Championships Men’s Singles event, they have to rise to the levels of which they are undoubtedly capable.
The third seeded position in the Men’s Singles seeding for the reigning champion; it is the same in the Women’s Singles event for China’s Li Xiaoxia, the winner two years ago in Paris. She is named behind compatriots Ding Ning, the champion in Rotterdam in 2011 and Liu Shiwen, the player Li Xiaoxia beat two years ago in the Paris final.
In the doubles event, the draw involving the top 16 seeds will take place at 2.30pm (local time) on Saturday April 25 at the Suzhou Cultural and Art Center.
The Round of 16, Quarter Finals and Semi-finals of games (Singles & Doubles) went down today at the Dr.Molade Okoya Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
There were lots exciting moments to savour as Table Tennis supporters from far and wide came to watch the best players in Africa and in the world do their thing.
Nigerian Athletes have proven their worth as Ojo Onaolapo, Aruna Quadri, Funke Oshonaike and Edem Effiong have all made it to the semi-finals in the singles event.
The future also look good for Nigeria as far as table tennis is concerned as we saw a scintillating performance from Hassan Nurudeen who seems to be getting better as the day goes by and who might end up winning the U-21 title next year.
The Foreign players have also put up fine displays in this tournament like Jieni Shao, Dina Meshref, Andre Silva, El-Belaili Mohammed.
DAY 4
RESULTS(Doubles)
MEN
QUARTER FINAL
* A.Silva & D.Siva def A.Ogunalade & O.Omotayo (3-1)
* K.Assar & O. Assar def O.Guinganfode & M.Olabiyi (3-0)
* El-Beiali & S.Magdy def M.Fathy & A.Mabrouk (3-0)
* Q.Aruna & M.Kazeem def O.Onaolaopo & B.Oyeniyan (3-1)
SEMI-FINAL
* A.Silva & D.Silva def K.Assar & O.Assar (3-1)
* Q. Aruna & M.Kazeem def El-Beiali & S.Magdy (3-2)
WOMEN
QUARTER FINAL
*D.Meshref & J.Shao def F.Ajala & N.Aroyehun (3-1)
*G.Nasser & Y.Helmy def R.Oguindele & E.Oribamise (3-0)
*C.Akpan & O.Edem def F.Abdel-Aziz & F.Alaa(3-0)
*O.Atinuke & I.Ermakova def F.Bello & A.Odusanya (3-1)
SEMI- FINAL
* D.Meshref & J.Shao def G.Nasser & Y.Helmy (3-2)
* C.Akpan & O.Edem def O.Atinuke & I.Ermakova (3-2)
SINGLES
Round of 16
MEN
* El-Beiali def N.Hassan (4-2)
* O.Onaolapo def M.Babatunde (4-1)
*M.Kazeem def O.Olaniyi (4-2)
* Q.Haruna def H.Adeyinka (4-0)
* A.Silva def A.Fagbamila (4-0)
* K.Assar def D.Silva (4-3)
* B.Oyeniyan def S.Ramadan (4-2)
* O.Assar def M.Fathy (4-0)
QUARTER-FINAL
* Q.Aruna def M.Kazeem (4-0)
* O.Onaolapo def El-Beiali (4-2)
* O.Assar def B.Oyeniyan (4-1)
* A.Silav def K.Assar. (4-1)
WOMEN
QUARTER FINAL
*D.Meshref def Y.Helmy (4-0)
* O.Edem def J.Effiom (4-0)
* O.Oshonaike def G.Nasser (4-3)
* J.Shao def I. Ermakova (4-0)
FIXTURES
MEN’S DOUBLES FINAL
*A.Silva & D.Silava vs Q.Aruna & M.Kazeem
WOMEN’S DOUBLES FINAL
* D.Meshref & J.Shao vs C.Akpan vs O.Edem
MEN’S SINGLES
SEMI- FINAL
* Q.Aruna vs O.Onaolapo
* O.Assar vs A. Silva
WOMENS SINGLES
SEMI-FINAL
* D.Meshref vs O.Edem
* O.Oshonaike vs J.Shao.
As the highest world-rated players listed for the competition, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Egypt’s Dina Meshref have been seeded the top players in the men and women singles events of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged Lagos Open.
In the seeding list released by the world table tennis ruling body, ITTF, Quadri who is rated 32 in the world is seeded number one while his arch-rival and defending champion, Egypt’s Omar Assar is seeded number two while Assar’s compatriot, Mohammed El-Beiali is number three.
The absence of Nigeria’s Segun Toriola may have paved the way for El-Beiali, who accounted for Quadri’s exit in the quarterfinal stage of the ITTF Africa Senior Championships to be seeded number three in the tournament.
Also listed in the top eight seeding list of the men’s singles are Portugal’s Andre Silva, Nigeria’s Boboye Oyeniyan, Egypt’s Khalid Assar, Nigeria’s Ojo Onaolapo and Togo’s Mawussi Agbetoglo.
Last year’s runner’s up and ITTF Africa Senior Championship winner, Meshref tops the women’s top four seeding list. Nigeria’s Funke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong are seeded two and three respectively, while Russia’s Irina Ermakova is seeded fourth.
In the U-21 seeding, defending champion in the boys’ category, Nigeria’s Onaolapo is seeded number one, while other players listed in the top four seeding list are Egypt’s duo of Shady Magdy and Mahmoud Fathy as well as Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo.
Egypt dominated the girls’ U-21 seeding with 20 year-old Meshref topping the seeding list. Her compatriots – Fatma Alaa and Yousra Helmy also made the list while the only Nigerian in the top four seeding list is Funke Hassan.
Meanwhile, over 90 journalists drawn from newspapers, magazine, radio and television stations including two international media, Supersport and Xinhua have been accredited for the championship serving off on March 10 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria.
Following their pedigree in the continent, Host – Egypt and Nigeria are top seeds for this week’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championships, which serves off in Cairo on Friday, January 23.
Also, the draw for the team events of the championship holds on Thursday January 23 in Cairo.
However, the seeding once again confirmed the dominance of Egypt over Nigeria as well as their superiority on the continent.
In Cairo, the rivalry between Egypt and Nigeria will once again come to fore as the North Africans are rated ahead of the West Africa giants in the team event of the championship.
In the seeding list released by the Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Egypt, which is the highest ranked African country in the world is seeded number one in men’s team event, while they are also seeded number one in the women’s division as well.
Despite Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri rise in the world rating, Egypt still holds the ace in Africa.
Table tennis buffs believe the recent ranking is a reflection of years of setback suffered by Nigeria under various boards of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF). But since the new board led by Wahid Oshodi, Nigeria is closing up the gap with the North Africans following the exceptional performance of the Segun Toriola-captained side at the last World Team Championship in Japan.
In the men’s seeding, other seeded teams among the 19 countries expected at the tournament are Congo Brazzaville, Algeria, Togo, Libya, Cameroun and Congo DRC for the men’s event.
Egypt also tops the seedings in the women’s event, other teams in the seeding list are Nigeria, Congo Brazzaville, Algeria, Cameroun and Congo DRC.
Egyptian players dominated the singles event with the trio of El-Sayed Lashin, Omar Assar and Ahmed Saleh seeded in top three while Nigeria’s Quadri is fourth on the seeding list.
In the women’s seeding, Congo Brazzaville’s Han Xing tops, while Egypt’s trio of Dina Meshref, Nadeed El-Dawlatly and Farah Abdel-Aziz.
Other top seed players are Nigeria’s duo of Offiong Edem and Funke Oshonaike. The draw for the team event holds tomorrow, while matches serve off on Friday
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