•Edem, Bello dream podium finish
Table tennis players expected to represent Nigeria at the forthcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will resume camping in Lagos next week, The PUNCH reports.
The Games hold from July 28 to August 8.
Our correspondent gathered that the team will comprise eight athletes. It was also learnt that the players current rankings and form would be used as criteria for player selection for the games.
Top stars Quadri Aruna, Edem Offiong and Fatimo Bello are among the players expected to make the team, barring any last-minute hitch.
An official of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation told The PUNCH that plans were in top gear to ensure Nigeria’s representatives excelled at the Commonwealth Games.
“We have not had it this good in terms of our players playing in quality tournaments before a major competition like the Commonwealth Games,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.
“The team will be camping in Lagos from next week and from there we will pick the players to represent the country in Birmingham.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s top-ranked women’s table tennis star Fatimo Bello remains upbeat about her chances of winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games, if selected.
Ranked world No.52 in the world and No.4 in Africa behind Egyptian trio Hana Goda, Mariam Alhodaby and Dina Meshref in the latest WTT rankings for women, the 24-year-old believes their chances of winning medals are bright.
“We are in good shape at the moment and I believe we will do well in Birmingham. Individually, I have been training on my own and I’m confident about our chances.”
Offiong Edem also expressed confidence in the women’s team making a podium finish in Birmingham.
“I have been training individually for the Commonwealth Games and will intensify when we begin close camping in the coming days.
“We have good players at the moment and I believe we will win medals there, which is our target.”
