Sports Briefs
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SEGUN Toriola, Africa’s most decorated table tennis player, has expressed regret over the country’s poor preparation for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, describing it as the worst ever. Toriola, 42, who will be making history in Brazil, as the first African athlete to feature in seven Olympics, said he has never seen this kind of preparation since he made his debut at the Olympics at Barcelona 1992 in Spain.
“I don’t think we ever had it so bad like this because even the last Olympics in London, by this time we have started preparation and I don’t think any athlete can do much in Brazil. It is disheartening that nobody is even telling us (athletes) what is the next thing we need to do.
“I think nobody should expect much from the athletes because most of our opponents are rounding up their preparation now while we have not even started,” he said.
On the idea of focusing on sports that are going to win medals, Toriola said, “I want our administrators to know that qualifying for the Olympics is now on a platter of gold as you have to compete to qualify to make it to the Olympics.
But we have to know that it is the biggest stage for every athlete and all those that have been winning Olympics medal had quality preparation and I think our athletes should be given enough support,” the former African champion said.
— Jun 27, 2016 @ 01:00 GMT
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