As the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged ‘Lagos Open’ draws near, Nigerian players are warming up for action, as most of them are now perfecting their strategies in their bid to put up good performance at the tournament.
“We want to ensure that we give our fans the expected performance because we must do well in order to halt the Egyptians’ dominance of the tournament.
“There is no doubt that this year’s competition promises to be explosive, as top players from Europe and Africa are coming to Lagos. We are also waiting,” some of the players said.
Meanwhile, Italy-based Ojo Onaolapo and Olajide Omotayo believe the tournament would provide Nigeria ample chance to confirm its superiority in the sport.
Onaolapo, who was part of Nigeria’s team to the last ITTF Africa Senior Championships, would not want to remember the two defeats he suffered in the hand of Egypt’s El-Sayed Lashin in Cairo, while Omotayo would not want the memory of his poor performance in 2014 to haunt him during the 2015 Lagos Open.
A silver medalist in the men’s doubles at the Africa Senior Championships, Onaolapo hopes to use the tournament to settle scores with the Egyptians.
He said: “My expectation for this year’s tournament is for me to train hard, so that I can perform well in any pro tournament this year. It was a bit difficult for me in my first tournament for the year, especially with my recent move to Europe. After returning to Europe, I have corrected some of the mistakes that I made in Cairo at the Africa Senior Championship.
“My target is to win both the U-21 and the men’s singles by God’s grace. I know I had to focus throughout the tournament because there is nothing impossible in table tennis and in life.”
For Onaolapo, the Egyptians would not have their way in Lagos.
“I am not seeing the Egyptians as threats to my ambition because losing in Cairo has been forgotten. But I am in good mood to take on any of them, and for me to overcome them, I just have to believe in myself because they are beatable,” he said.
As the defending champion of the U-21 event, Onaolapo said he is in form to participate in the Lagos Open, as he is hoping for Nigeria’s dominance in the competition.
“I believe I can make good impact in the tournament because I am now 100 per cent ready; I started my training after the Cairo tournament. There is no doubt that Nigerian players led by ITTF star, Aruna Quadri, can dominate the tournament. But I know the Egyptians are not push-overs; so we should not look down on them. Other European players are also going to be tough,” Onaolapo said.
Unlike Onaolapo, who has something to show for his efforts in 2014, Omotayo failed to dazzle the Lagos fans after he was bundled out of the tournament early, having been considered as the next big thing in African table tennis circuit.
“I know that this year’s tournament will be more competitive because the Egyptians are coming with most of their best players. I am optimistic that Nigerian players will give them a run for the title. We are hoping to do what the Egyptian did at the just-concluded ITTF Africa Senior Championships,” he said.
“What happened last year has taught me that I must train well and not to rely on my skills alone. But this year, I am ready to put in my best to make my fans, family and the board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) happy for what they have done to the game since they came on board. My main target is to win the U-21 category, and I am also targeting a good spot in the men’s singles event.”
Omotayo believes that the presence of ITTF Star Player, Quadri, and Africa champion, Egypt’s Omar Assar, will inspire him to aim high.
“I believe I can make an impact at the tournament because I also been looking for an opportunity like this, which, I think, will trigger me to give my 100 per cent, participating alongside Quadri, Assar and so many more. For me, it is an honour to have the 2014 ITTF male best player in our midst,” Omotayo said.
