West Africa Table-Tennis Championships Will Get Players World Ranking By ITTF

Ranking

The on-going 2021 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Western Region Championships will help to boost the ranking of participating players.

The declaration was made in Lagos on Tuesday by Ishaku Tikon, President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF).

The championship began on Monday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Tikon noted that newly-discovered players had proven that the Federation did not waste resources in preparing them for the competition.

He commended the Nigerian players for giving their best at the competition.

“I am impressed with the standard of game going on, the Western region has just proved that we are not lagging behind.

“This is an ITTF-sanctioned competition and it will help the ranking of the region in the world.

“In fact in the African continent I am proud to say that my region which is the Western Region is on top from the exploits and fireworks I have seen here.

“What is going on presently on this second day of the championships shows that by Wednesday, getting to the semi-finals, the level of play will be of higher standards,’’ he said.

Tikon noted that one of the female players, Fatimo Bello, had qualified for the finals and would defend her title.

“Bello has just qualified for the finals beating her opponent 3 – 0 in the game of six, so she is still on top of her game.

“I am also sure of three other players. Two of them that are new breed have so far proved that we have not wasted our time on them.

“We are really impressed with the new players discovered so I want to tell you that so much surprises will be coming in the finals,” he said.

Mr John Peters, an umpire at the competition said the tourney would ensure the players got unto the ITTF ranking calendar.

He noted that the championships would help the players to earn more points to enable them to get ranked by the ITTF.

“This is the second edition and ITTF is watching how we organise and how we do things.

“The competition has been fantastic, entertaining and interesting and it is good that it is happening in Nigeria.

“We are proud to host one of the toughest tournaments in recent times and everyone is happy to be entertained by top class table tennis players.

“Some of them are not in the senior category; particularly those from Ghana. We have two young girls who are entertaining us so high.

“We are sure that in years to come, one of these two girls will be a champion in Africa,’’ Peters said.

William Asare, Ghana Team Leader said the players were well prepared to face the competition as defending champions in the women’s team event.

He added that the team had worked out strategies to ensure it won the competition.

He noted that Nigeria had done a great job by receiving and accommodating the team.

“Nigeria is so far the strongest team in Africa and beating Nigeria to enable us qualify to the finals in the women’s team event is a big win for us.

“Nigeria’s defending women champions will be playing my team in the finals; we know them well enough now and their style.

“This is their land, but we will strategise and do our best to beat them,’’ he boasted.