Lagos – One of the nation’s budding table tennis players Abayomi Animashaun on Wednesday said the recently concluded World Cadet Challenge in Egypt was an eye-opener for him even though he didn’t excel.
The 12 year-old rising star told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the major thing he learnt was footwork which is the most important thing in table tennis.
“It’s sad that I was unable to come out tops but I am a better player now. I am not what I was before the competition started.
“I have improved so well, especially in my footwork. Once your footwork is perfect you have every chance to win all your matches.
“I tried my best at the competition but I guess my best was not enough and this will serve as a lesson for me in future.
“I learnt a lot and would be going to work better on my lapses so as not to repeat them in future,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the competition, which served off on Oct. 23 was concluded on Nov. 1, with Animashaun emerging in the 20th position from the 32 players that participated.
Olubode Ajayi, the coach who accompanied Animashaun to the tournament told NAN that a whole lot still needed to be done on Animashaun.
Ajayi added that he took note of areas where work needed to be done on the player to improve on his performance in future competitions.
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“Animashaun and I will go back to the basics and make the necessary corrections. He is still in the age bracket for corrections and with the zeal in him those corrections will be made.
“He is ready to learn and improve so I see him becoming a better table tennis player,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Chinedu Ezealah-Ogundare, the Secretary-General, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), has expressed her dissatisfaction at Animashaun’s performance in Egypt.
She said that it was not a good performance and didn’t meet up her expectations.
“It’s not a good one, not encouraging at all. Nevertheless, we will keep pushing him to getting better,” she said. (NAN)
