Stakeholders discuss obstacles in Nigeria’s table tennis progress
Stakeholders in Nigerian table tennis have voiced concerns about the challenges facing the country’s players on the global stage. Quadri Aruna and the men’s team were eliminated by Egypt after initial group stage wins, while the women’s team lost all their matches. Adetayo Soji and Wahid Oshodi highlighted issues such as funding, travel costs, and lack of exposure to international tournaments. There is a push for better coaching, facilities, and more local tournaments to help bridge the gap with top nations.
Match highlights
- The men’s team, led by Quadri Aruna, won against Saudi Arabia and South Africa but were knocked out by Egypt in the preliminary round.
- The women’s team lost all group matches against Wales, Australia, and Uzbekistan.
- Adetayo Soji noted that high travel costs and limited resources hinder Nigerian players’ participation in European tournaments.
- Wahid Oshodi emphasized the need for increased support and more tournament exposure for athletes.
- Plans are underway for a one-month training camp at Babcock University and continued focus on coaching education and local tournaments like the WTT Contender Lagos.
