Lagos Int’l Table Tennis Classics: Wildcard Excites Ajetunmobi

Nigeria’s Seun Ajetunmobi has said that he hopes to give his best after being handed a wildcard to the main draw of the Lagos International Table Tennis Classics.

The preliminaries for Nigerian players taking part in the tournament will begin on 22 August at Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Ajetunmobi, the Portugal-based southpaw player, has been described as one of the skillful players in Africa. Though he is yet to utilize his potentials, he believes Nigerians would see the best of him at the Classics.

“I know so many people are still doubting my ability but I will use this competition to prove myself that I am still relevant. I know it is going to be a tall order for us, especially Nigerian players, but I know we will deliver. As long as I want to win the tournament, I am aware of the task ahead and I will take every game as they come,” Ajetunmobi said.

Former Nigerian national player, Sawu Ayemojuba has also expressed his intention to be part of the tournament and he is expected to compete in the qualifiers.

The Belgium-based player, who last featured for Nigeria in the early 2000s, is hoping to use the tournament to affirm his relevance in the game.

For Italy-based coach, Michael Oyebode, the tournament would surely afford the country to relaunch itself back among the top table tennis playing nations. He specifically, said that it would also help the players to assess themselves against their foreign counterparts.

Meanwhile, the Main Organising Committee (MOC) has said that at least players from 12 countries across the world have registered for the competition.

With South Africa being the last nation to register for the tournament, the MOC listed others as Chinese Taipei, Cameroun, Congo Brazzaville, Congo DRC, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Lithuania, Senegal, Tunisia and Italy, while South Africa’s flag will be flown by Luke Abraham. The MOC also listed 32 players for the main draw in the men’s singles, while 16 were listed in the women’s singles.

In the boys’ junior main draw, 16 players were listed, while eight were listed in the girls’ single junior event. For the men’s singles, 32 players that will emerge from the qualifiers for the Nigerian players will make it to the main draw, while 16 will join the women in the main draw as well.

As the venue of the tournament now wears new look, Nigerian players competing in the qualifiers will commence hostilities from 22-23 August to decide those that will make it to the main draw, which will serve off on Monday, 26 August.