ITTF lists Nigeria, others for World Championships in China

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.

Nigerian Women’s Team, at the 2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships

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.

NTTF President’s Cup Serves Off

Nigeria Table Tennis Federation

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.

Ajoke Ojomu

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.

Eight Awards Up For Grabs At NTTF President’s Cup

Nigeria Table Tennis Federation

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.

National junior champion, Tosin Esther Oribamishe

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.

Ajoke Ojomu

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.