LAGOS – Nigeria emerged winners of the male and female single at the just-concluded 11th International Blaise Sogo Table Tennis Championships in the Republic of Benin between Dec. 19 and Dec. 20.
Kazeem Makanjuola and Rashidat Ogundele, won the male and female singles titles respectively.
Makanjuola told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday on arrival that participating in the Maiden Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) Presidents Cup contributed to his success at the championships.
“I was still in top form after participating in the NTTF President’s Cup just before we left for the championships in the Republic of Benin.
“The zeal at the President’s Cup was what I carried on with and believe me my opponents too fought so hard to win.
“My performance can be attributed to hard work and the constant competitions I engaged in within the year,’’ he said.
Rashidat Ogundele said that championship was highly competitive.
“The championships was tough and keenly contested by all the players; top players from various African countries took part in the competition.
“The championships have changed from what it used to be and we now have many young players across the continent taking part in the tournament,’’ she said.
NAN reports that the championships are an annual tournament for African players.
At the 2013 edition which held from Dec. 20 to Dec. 21,, Nigeria reportedly clinched four gold and a silver medal and this year it won two gold, two silver and one bronze medals.
Meanwhile, Anderson Bankole, NTTF, the Technical Director, has lauded the country’s representatives at the tournament, stressing that their triumph was a sign of greater things to come in 2015.
“It is good to know that the young ones are waking up and doing so well.
“We still have a lot to do; we will ensure that we address their weakness, we will not leave anything out in ensuring that our players do well in international competitions,” he said.
The technical director hoped that the players would strive to maintain the country’s top position in the continent.
“We will strive not just to be Number One in Africa but in the World.
“With God on our side, and commitment of the players, we will achieve it,” he said.
Nosiru Bello, the Head Coach of NTTF, also expressed satisfaction with the performance of the players.
He said that they played well and listened to instructions.
“They put in their best; I must say I am satisfied with their performance.
“We still have a lot to do on the players and I know they will keep getting better,’’ he said. (NAN)
Nigeria clinches 2 gold medals at Blaise Sogo Table Tennis Championships
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