Lagos – The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) on Thursday said that the sport was exempted from qualifiers for the forthcoming All African Games (AAG).
Nosiru Bello, the head coach of NTTF told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that any country that wished to participate in table tennis was eligible.
NAN reports that the AAG would hold from Sept. 4 to Sept. 19 in Congo Brazzaville.
“Qualifying series are not done in table tennis like other sports. The sport has automatic slots and open to countries that are interested in participating in the event.
“Any country that has got its independence is eligible to partake at the Games,” he said.
The coach said that the absence of qualify matches had afforded his player ample time to prepare for the Games.
“Countries always use this period to conduct trials to select the players they would take to the Games.
“Countries always have lots of talented players but have to narrow it down to the very best so as to achieve their goals for the competition.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“Nigeria for example has so many players, both home-based and some playing professional outside the country.
“We are monitoring their performances and fitness level, so as to make the best selection for the upcoming Games,”he said.
Nigeria emerged as runners-up behind Egypt at the 2011 edition of the AAG in Mozambique.
Team Nigeria clinched three gold, five silver and one bronze.
No fewer than 53 countries participated in the quadrennial event in which 20 disciplines were featured. (NAN)