Nigeria To Play More Int’l Tourneys In 2012

The secretary of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, NTTF, Segun Oguntade, has assured Nigerians that the body will increase its participation in International Table Tennis Federation, ITTF’s Open Pro-Tour championships in 2012.

Oguntade said that the participation of more Nigerian players in the championships would boost their international rankings and that of the country in the ITTF.

“There is need for more Nigerian players, both young and older ones, to feature in the ITTF pro-tour in 2012. This is because there is a lot to benefit from the tour.

“Pro-Tours are ITTF organised major events where players around the world exhibit their skills during competitions and are individually assessed for high or low ranking. It also affects individual country’s rating,’’ he said.

The NTTF scribe said that the ITTF has at least six Pro-Tour tournaments in its 2012 programme, open to home and foreign-based players.

He said that two of such programmes, the English Open, will hold in February, while the Kuwait Open will be played later in the year.

Oguntade said that although the federation has not received any information on players’ registration for the tourneys, the federation would prepare logistics for intending Nigerian players.

He said that the federation is making efforts to get sponsors for its national and international championships and urged support from sports enthusiasts and corporate bodies.

—Bamidele Olowosagba