Nigeria is among the more than 200 countries that have arrived in Japan for the 2014 World Table Tennis Championships beginning today. Eight players will represent the country at the Championships slated to hold from April 28 to May 5 in Tokyo.
The Nigerian contingent is led by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) President, Waheed Enitan-Oshodi and the Technical Director, ACP Anderson Bankole.
Also in the contingent is the NTTF Sectary, Chinedu Ezealah-Ogundare.
The male players are Segun Toriola, Aruna Quadri, Onaolapo Ojo, and Kazeem Makanjuola.
The female players are Effiong Edem, Cecilia Otu-Akpan, Funke Oshonaika and Tosin Oribamise.
Meanwhile, Makanjuola on telephone from Tokyo said that he and his colleagues were in top gear for the competition.
“Segun Toriola is playing his opening match today in Group E against Asia.
“He is up to the task and I believe in him, he is the captain of the male side and he knows what he’s up against,” he said.
Makanjuola added that the players were fully prepared before embarking on the trip and that they would make the country proud.
“We are up to the task and we will deliver because that is why we are in the competition,” he said.
This is the 52nd edition of the tournament and the 7th edition to be hosted by Japan.
Nigeria will on Tuesday compete against the Czech Republic and Belgium.
The country’s team will also be in action on Wednesday where they will play against Bosnia-Herzegovina and on Thursday against Canada.
