By Victor Enyinnaya, Lagos on May 9, 2016

The President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Entian Oshodi, is optimistic that the sport will haul medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

He was speaking against the backdrop of Nigerian men’s qualification for the big Games.                  

Oshodi told Daily Sports: “The NTTF will collaborate deeply with the Sports Ministry to encourage and motivate the players. Our eyes are set on hauling medals. I will not stay here and tell you the colour, but I have profound conviction that our players will not leave Rio empty-handed. We are all working hard towards it. It may not look easy judging from the calibre of players we will be competing against; however, we will remain focused and determined to excel.”

The NTTF President noted that the players have excelled at the All-Africa Games after a very long while of winning medal in the sport, and at the Commonwealth Games. He expressed confidence that they will not disappoint when the chips are down in Rio.

“The male team’s qualification, for example, is no fluke; they have solid experience and background that would get them going no matter the robustness and strength of their opponents. For instance, Segun Toriola, has seen the in and out of the table tennis at the highest level of competitions and nothing would intimidate him. Haruna Quadiri is doing well also. We pray nothing would go wrong prior to the kick-off of the Olympics. The core here is to for us to ensure that they would get quality drill spiced with modern day tactics of the game,” Oshodi said.

The former Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development in Lagos State added that he has no iota of doubt in him about the readiness of the sports ministry to rally around athletes in the collective quest to achieve the desired goal.

“Yes, Olympics Games is the summit of competition where any athlete would like to attain, that won’t get into their heads as coming back to Nigeria with medal would add to their rating I believe the players will work assiduously towards being in great form ready for the kill. On our part as Federation we are ever ready to assist to any level that would enhance their performances at the end of the day,” he stated.

•Photo shows NTTF President, Wahid Entian Oshodi.

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 9, 2016

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