Lagos International Table Tennis Classic:Asaar, Toriola, Xing, Oshonaike Pick Semi Final Tickets.

Han Xing.

Segun Toriola.

Edem Offiong.

The coast of Lagos International Table Tennis championship is getting clearer as top rated table tennis players in the Men’s and Women’s single have qualifies for the semi-final.

In the men’s singles, Africa’s number one player, Omar Assar of Egypt, proved worthy of being African best as he disgraced one of the Nigeria’s sensational professional table tennis player, Seun Ajetunmobi, by four straight set, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5, 16-14, in the best of seven games.

Assar, who believed that Nigerian table tennis players are very skillful and could record an upset in any international competition, will play against Nigerian-born, Congo Brazaville player, Saka Suraja in the semi-final fixed for Friday.

Aruna Quadri, who was among the ping pongers to win the five thousand dollars at stake in the Men’s singles based  on his current form, failed to live up to expectations as he was defeated by Saka Suraju by four set to three.

Former African number one, Segun Toriola, easily scaled through to the semi-final after defeating Nigerian-born Congo Brazzaville player, Idowu Saheed by four set to one while Kazeem Makanjuola fought hard to defeat Ojo Onaolapo by four set to three.

African female number one table tennis player, Han Xing, and the trio of Nigerian female ping pongers, Funke Oshonaike, Akpan Cecilia and Offiong Edem are through to the semi-final of Women’s singles event.

Xing, who defeated Nigerian-born Congo Brazaville player, Nwachukwu Onyiyechi, 4-1, in the round of sixteen also outplayed Akpan itoro, by four set to one in the quarter final to book a date with Akpan Cecilia in the semi-final.

Akpan Cecilia, who is one of the talented players in tournament will have to work hard to survive Xing’s foreplay as the China-born Congo Brazaville players is determined to cart away the star prize attached to the event.

Edem Offiong, who recently relocated to Nigeria after playing professional table tennis in France, outplayed olaide Atinuke by four straight set to book a date with Funke Oshonaike in the semi-final.

Funke Oshonaike, who play with a professional division one, table tennis club in Germany, is confident of playing Xing in the final, stressing that it is a day she has been looking for.