Foreign players eager to return for Nigeria Open

Tobi Adesina

Majority of the foreign players that featured in the just concluded ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open ‘Lagos 2017’ are looking forward to return for the next edition in 2018.

African and European players are singing same song after having a swell time in Lagos and they have all agreed that attending the next edition will part of their itinerary for 2018.

It was South Africa’s Theo Cogill who first expressed his willingness to make a return to Nigeria while others followed.

Cogill, who made it to the main draw of the men’s singles event said the atmosphere coupled with the warmness coupled with the hospitality of Lagosians are irresistible for him not to come back.

“I cannot but return to Lagos next year because I have never attended a well-organised and crowd pulling table tennis tournament like this particularly in Africa. The people are every friendly and the atmosphere in the hall was awesome. I did not expect I will go far but I made it to the first round amidst the quality of players in the competition,” the South African vice champion said.

Also, Hungary’s Berndadett Balint described her experience as memorable. “I like the tournament because people like table tennis so much. Also the African players were good because they tried their best. This is my first time in Nigeria despite being a difficult tournament, I will like to come here again because I had good memories,” the women’s doubles champion said.

French international and men’s doubles champion, Antoine Hachard said: “Playing Nigeria Open has been a wonderful experience because of the atmosphere with the sport and the connection with the public was something unbelievable. I think they (African players) are different in terms of qualities and physical attributes. Most importantly, the atmosphere here is great; it not the same in Europe as the atmosphere is Lagos is unique."

For Sarthak Ghandi, who finished as runner’s up in the men’s singles, every moment at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall was awesome. “I think I have never seen this kind of crowd that cheers the players so well like this before. They showed their understanding of the game and this most times inspires players to give their best. This is my first time in Africa and I will be willing to come back again to Lagos next year,” the Indian star said.

2017 ITTF Nigeria Open: Cecilia Akpan ready to stop foreigners’ dominance

Tobi Adesina

With two days to the commencement of this year ITTF Nigeria Open "Lagos 2017", 31-year-old mother of one Cecilia Akpan is ready to lead the halting of foreigners’ dominance at the Africa elite tournament holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Akpan who is a member of the Nigeria national team said she is fully ready to battle against the foreigners in Lagos.

“For me this is another chance for us to prove that we can still rub shoulders with the world’s best. The quality of the players this year is no doubt exceptional and in the history of the competition, this is the best assembly of players we have ever had. So it is time for us Nigerian players not to allow the visitors to come and cart away all the prize money and medals. We will surely hold them in all the events,” she said.

“After returning from Morocco, I have not missed any training because I know I must be at my best if I am hoping to contest with the foreigners in the competition. Things are working well for me and I am in top form and eager to commence campaign from the preliminary which starts on August 9. "I want to take each game as they come hoping that I will make it to the main draw where anything can happen.”

Akpan, who was unbeaten during the ITTF African Club Championships in Morocco, recently lauded the organizers of the championships for attracting quality players to the competition annually as well as putting Nigeria in the world map of table tennis.