Toriola Warns Nigerian Players

Former African number one table tennis player, Segun Toriola, has warned Nigerian table tennis players expected to compete in the first Lagos International Table Tennis classic not to be afraid of word ranked foreign players as the competition begins on Thursday at the Sportshall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Toriola, a six time Olympian, said the likes of Amina Quadri, who cane into limelight in 2009, Suen Ajetunmobi, who is rated fifteen in Africa and two hundred and ninety-nine in the world, Offiong Edem, the current All Africa Games champion would make positive impact in the competition which has attracted nineteen countries across the world.

The pin ponger, who plays for Baryand Argenlan of France said the competition help Nigerian home based table tennis players to acquire experience and to be exposed to international competitions, adding that the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, should endeavor to establish a structured youth developmental programmes.

Toriola, who will soon retire from national assignments to focus on his club’s activities, said plans were in top gear to start a table tennis academy as the gesture would regenerate the standard of table tennis.

While commending the present board of Nigeria Table Tennis federation under the reign of Wahid Enitan Oshodi, for the staging the event, said the new board understood the problems confronting the sport.