Nigeria has qualified for the quarter final of the World Team Table Tennis Championship after escaping Bulgaria threat in the knock out stage of the division two in the World Team Table Tennis Championship in Russia.
It was the superb effort of Seun Ajetunmobi that put Nigeria back on track for a place in the top division.
With Ajetunmobi and Aruna Quadri losing their matches to the Bulgarians, stand-in captain, Monday Merotohun did the impossible by winning two matches to level up the game for Nigeria .
In the final match, Ajetunmobi impatient caused him the first two games against his hefty Bulgarian opponent.
But a wake-up call from coach Lateef Sunmola coupled with cheering from the Nigerian delegation motivated Ajetunmobi who levelled up the game and went ahead to win at 8-11, 3-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-9 for the Nigerian side to advance to the quarterfinal stage of division two.
Nigeria's sensational ping ponger, Segun Toriola, believes the team was fortunate against the Bulgarians, saying the Nigerian team were too relaxed in the match, adding that he was not surprised about the victory because Bulgaria has never beat Nigeria in any ITTF sanctioned tournament.
The Nigerian ladies which has been bye to the quarter final stage of division after topping group one, will today face winner between Mexico and Macao for a promotion quest in the elite cadre.
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