World Table Tennis Contender Championship draws over 20 countries to Lagos

[FILES] Tennis. Photo: EXPERTTABLETENNIS

• Nigeria begins race to Paris 2024 Olympics Over 20 countries are expected in Lagos for the World Table Tennis Contender Championship (WTT Contender), which serves off on June 12 and ends on June 18 at the Molade Okoya Thomos Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Speaking at the media unveiling of the event’s calendar yesterday, top official of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Wahid Oshodi, said the WTT Contender Championship would be used to rank players, just as it would present a platform for Nigerian players to gather points that would qualify them for next year’s Olympic Games.

Expressing his delight that the country was given the right to host the world championship, Oshodi said that more Nigerian players have been given opportunity to register and participate in the tournament to earn valuable experience.

“Over 50 players will participate in the WTT Contender Championship, which is in the ITTF calendar. The best Table Tennis players, male and female, across the globe will be in Lagos to participate in the WTT Contender event.

“Aruna Quadri, one of Nigeria’s best table tennis players, will not be taking part in the championship. But I believe this would pave the way for more upcoming stars in the country to emerge.

“About $75,000 worth of cash prizes have been earmarked for outstanding players, including Nigerians based at home and abroad, at the tournament,” he said.

He thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Lagos State government, Lagos State Sports Commission and various organisations, who made the event, assuring that the WTT Contender Championship would create a platform for Nigerian players to compete against the world’s top players.

Follow