Nigerians set to make history as World Table Tennis Contender in Lagos

Nigerians set to make history as World Table Tennis Contender in Lagos

Hassan Abdulsalam 06:12 - 07.06.2023

The Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium will host the WTT Contender, which is slated for June 12–18.

The National Table Tennis Coach, Nosiru Bello, has revealed that Nigerian players are ready to make history at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender in Lagos.

Pulse Sports reported that the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium will host the WTT Contender, which is slated for June 12–18.

Fatimo Bello will lead Nigeria female players to WTT Lagos
Fatimo Bello will lead Nigeria female players to WTT Lagos Fatimo Bello will lead Nigeria female players to WTT Lagos

No fewer than 50 male and female players are training in Lagos ahead of the championship.

WTT Lagos contenders will have players from about 15 countries, and it is expected to allow players to garner ranking points in their quest to pick tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.

Players from top table tennis-playing nations like China, Chinese Taipei, Germany, India, and a host of others are expected in Lagos for the epic event.

Bello confidence of a successful outing

Bello told NAN that the tournament would also feature some of the top players in the world.

Nosiru Bello
National table tennis coach, Nosiru Bello

He added that preparations are in top gear as the Nigerian players are upbeat and in high spirits for the event.

“Some of them have heard of our players but have not met or played with them; this is an opportunity for us to show them what we have got.

“This is an opportunity for our players to give their contenders a tough time and for them to also witness Nigeria’s Ping-Pong game.

Taiwo Mati

“The players are rigorously preparing for the World Table Tennis tournament. Both male and female athletes are fully prepared for the championship.

“I can tell you that we can confidently meet up to the standard of other players coming from different countries.

“The new ones are also prepared to give the world-class players a tough time and also showcase their talents. It is then that we will know where to start again. For them, this is like an examination because there is no way you will be teaching students all around the year and won’t set an examination for them,” he added.

Pulse Sports reported that Africa's table tennis star, Quadri Aruna, has revealed that he will not be participating at the WTT Contender in Lagos.

Quadri Aruna

The African giant revealed that he will not be participating at the WTT in Lagos due to club engagements.

The Nigerian joined Russian club, Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg from the Bundesliga in January to improve his game as well as expose him to world-class training with the Moscow-based team.

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