Segun Urges NTTF To Commence Developmental Programmes

Former Deputy President of the International Table Tennis federation, George Segun, says the first Lagos International Table tennis classic will re-awaken the growth of the sport.

Segun, who made this statement yesterday at the international press conference ahead of the competition, said Nigeria table tennis players were the pride of Africa in the eighties winning many international competitions but the trend has nose-dived due to lack of sponsors and regular competitions.

While urging the present board of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, NTTF, to delve into a well structured youth developmental programmes to discover and nurtured athletes to stardom so as to replace aging Nigerian ping pongers and also to regain its position as African best.

He regarded former African number one, segun Toriola, as a fantastic table tennis players who had made the country proud but there is a need to emulate the Egypt Table Tennis Federation that is topping the African Table Tennis Federation rankings.

He believed that the Lagos International Table Tennis classic would have positive impact on Nigerian players and it would also encourage NTTF to further organize competitions of international status.