ITTF: Nigeria And Other Representatives Of Africa Suffered Heavy Defeats Against Their Opponents In Busan
ITTF (WTTC) update: two of Africa’s representatives, Nigeria and
Egypt, have suffered defeats at the ongoing
ITTF World Table Tennis Championships
(WTTC) taking place in Busan, South Korea.
According to a statement by Olalekan Okunsan, the Public
Relations Officer (PRO), of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).
He revealed Nigeria lost 0-3 to Chinese Taipei, and Egypt were likewise beaten 3-0 by Romania in their first group match.
Okusan stated that another African representative, Algeria, also lost to France in the men and women events, while South
African ladies were no match for their Brazilian counterparts in their second match of the group.
All four African representatives lost their first game which means they are all still searching for their first win at the ongoing championships.
“The Nigerian women’s team lost their second group match against Slovakia, while they were expected to take on Germany on Sunday, Feb. 18.
“In their quest to record their first group win, the Nigerian men’s team will take on their African counterpart, Madagascar.
While Egypt’s search for their first win will see them line up against Portugal in their second group match. Algeria on the other hand, will rest in readiness for their tie against Denmark on Monday, Feb. 19,” Olalekan revealed.
Meanwhile a Nigerian table tennis player, Olajide Omotayo, while reacting, described the absence of Aruna as a major setback to the team who still have the ambition of progressing from the group.
Omotayo further revealed:
“It was very bad that we lost gallantly against Chinese Taipei, but sports can be like this sometimes, and my partner just arrived in
Korea, so he’s a bit tired.
“Also, our key player is not here, and we can’t win every time. We’ll fight for the next match.
“Chinese Taipei has very good and strong teams, and they have more experience and play really well.
“For the next match, we need to go to sleep because I haven’t slept since I got to Korea,” said the 2019 African Games champion.
Nigeria will be hoping they can turn things around in their next group game with earlier exit beckoning on them if they fail to turn up.
