John Peters, a Nigerian table tennis umpire, says the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has lived up to expectations ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Peters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos that it was gratifying that three of NTTF athletes have qualified to represent the country at the Summer Olympics.
Funke Oshonaike, Offiong Edem and Olajide Omotayo secured qualification tickets at the just-ended Africa Qualifications Tournament in Tunis, Tunisia from Feb. 27 to Feb. 29.
“It was a very pleasant outing for the players and a great achievement for the NTTF to confirm that its sport’s shortlist towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was not a fluke.
“I am not only happy but feel proud to belong to the table tennis family. These players have performed well by qualifying for the Games,” Peters said.
The umpire applauded the Ishaku Tikon-led NTTF board for its work and commitment in the preparation stages of the Olympic qualifiers, saying this greatly contributed to the players’ successful outing.
He pointed out that the performances of Oshonaike and Edem at the qualifiers indicated that the Nigerian women were coming up in the sport as earlier yearned for by the federation.
“The team did well. But I must declare that the female ones are improving a great deal and I am particularly impressed because of the oppression from Egypt players.
“It is a proof that when issues that are stake are very weighty, we can count on them. Oshonaike in spite of not being fortunate at the African Cup is determined to set an African record.
“Today, she is the first African female athlete to feature seven times at the Olympics in table tennis and even in any other sport which is a very proud performance.
“Edem is another force to reckon with. She has represented Nigeria in continental games, the 2004 and 2012 Olympics and now she will be at Tokyo 2020,’’ Peters added.
He described Omotayo as a shining star who has proven that he will go places.
Omotayo has won the African Games men’s singles title at the continental tournament held in Rabat, Morocco in 2019.
Peters, however, expressed optimism that Quadri Aruna, the ITTF 18th-ranked player who pulled out of the qualification tournament due to injury, would be considered based on his outstanding record.
“Omotayo as a young player started well and has been doing well. He also proved this last year at the African Games. So, we have high hopes on him that he will deliver.
“I am very sure that, normally, Aruna would have qualified. But unfortunately he could not continue due to sudden injury during the third stage of the group matches,’’ he said.(NAN)
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