Quadri Sure Of Table Tennis’ Medals,Calls For More Support

Among the medals won by Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games, table tennis has contributed some of it even as the next games holds in Scotland, Portugal-based Aruna Quadri believes with more support, Nigeria stands a chance of clinching medals in Glasgow.

Quadri, who defied all odds to make the last 16 at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-sanctioned World Tour tagged Spanish Open, admitted that the attention giving to football is really affecting the fortune of other sports, particularly table tennis adversely.

“We really need support and motivation as we are hoping that things must change in our country's sports because priority is just being accorded to football. For us in table tennis, things are not going well because is not giving enough support to the sport and this is putting us in a difficult situation all the time.

Most times, we spend our personal money to attend competitions in order to be well prepared the Commonwealth Games. We really appreciate the financial support the President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi has been giving to us since January,” he said.

Unlike their foreign counterparts who have been getting granting from their sports ministry to attend tournaments in order to be in top form for the games, Quadri however, pleaded with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to consider supporting the players with grant to attend competitions.

“I wish to take part in more pro tours before Commonwealth Games but I need support and motivation, I have spent a lot on myself and I am in need of financial support to keep playing tournament regularly so as to be in good shape for Glasgow Games,” he added.

He expressed optimism that Team Nigeria has the wherewithal to be among the medal winning teams in Scotland, but said, “We stand a chance of winning medal in Scotland because at the Spanish Opens, we had five English players and five Indian players with one English and two Indians making it to the last 64. But as Nigerians, we were only two that took part in the competition and only one of us made it to the main draw (round of 64).

England and Indian are not better than us atpresent, but because they are playing tournament regularly to keep improving. We also need support to be playing tournament regularly and with that, we can be doing so much better than before,” he admitted

“We are seriously calling the attention of NSC and stakeholders to support table tennis so that we can regain our past lost glory in the game,” he said.

Sanni Ndanusa Warns Nigerian Athletes To Stay Out Of Drugs

The President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, N.O.C, Sanni Ndanusa, says the arrival of Queens Baton Relay in Nigeria is to signal the preparations towards the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow which will begin on twenty - third of July and end on third of August, 2014.

Ndanusa, who made this statement yesterday while speaking with sports journalists, explained that most of the Sports Federations expected to feature in the Games ad been featuring in series of international events in readiness for the Games, adding that the gesture would definitely propel them to preparation for the Games.

He said the various international sports classics organised by the Lagos State Government in 2013 also culminated into the preparations for the Games because it attracted the attention of international bodies as well as top rated foreign athletes.

The N.O.C President charged Nigerian athletes to be committed,resolute and stay away from banned drugs because the organisers of the Games are very serious about drug cheat, stressing that he wants Nigerian athletes to the Games to record clean records.

He stressed that the N.O.C, had learned a big lesson from the woeful performance of Nigeria's athletes to the London 2012 Olympic Games, hence the reason the committee is revamping to record a better outing, adding that plans

are in top gear to step up their training programmes through the various sports Federations so as  to record scintilating performance at the Games as it was done during the India Commonwealth Games.

On the presentation of I.O.C trophy to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola at the Governor's Office, Alausa, Ndanusa, said the event was a significant day in the history of Olympic as the Queens baton relay signifies the beginning of preparations for the Games,stressing that it is a way to sensitize the public and the Commonwealth countries about the Games and its importance.

The award was as a result of the contributions of Lagos State Government towards the development of sports and also the Governor's commitment to sports o sports excellence, stressing that the N.O.C is elated that Governor Babatunde Raji would receive the Games baton on behalf of other Governors.

Nigeria Is Ready For Queen’s Baton Relay – DG NSC

All arrangements have been concluded to receive the Queen’s Baton Relay team, which will arrive Nigeria from Ghana tomorrow, Monday, January 6th, 2014, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye has said.

He stated that arrangements had been made with the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Police and other security agencies to ensure smooth passage and parade of the Baton in Abuja.

 Hon. Elegbeleye made these disclosures yesterday at a press briefing where he disclosed that the Queen’s Baton Relay was launched at the Buckingham Palace, at a ceremony where are Her Majesty, The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth in the baton.

 The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay is the curtain raiser to the XX (20th) Commonwealth Games. Over a period of 288 days, the baton will visit 70 nations and territories, covering about 190,000 kilometers and involving a third of the world’s population, making it the world’s most engaging relay.

The Queen's Baton will arrive Nigeria was Ghana where it was paraded in Accra and Kumasi. According to the Itinerary released by the organizing Committee, the Director General National Sports Commission Hon. Elegbeleye will receive the Baton in company of diplomats from Commonwealth countries accredited to Nigeria.

Thereafter the Motorcade will proceed to the Presidential Villa where the Baton will be handed to the Hon. Minister/Chairman, National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who will then present the Baton to the President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR.

 The event is expected to climax at State House with remarks from the President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan after which he will hand it over to the Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT for a procession through the Federal Capital Territory.