ISHAKU Tikom, president, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, NTTF, has expressed satisfaction with the quality of players at the ongoing One Service One Medal, OSOM, Games in Abuja.
Tikom, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on the sidelines of the event, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, said he was pleased with the quality of players seen so far.
NAN reports that no fewer than 740 athletes are taking part in the competition which is the fourth edition of the OSOM Games.
The NTTF president noted that even though the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted the games, he was delighted to see the quality of talents that abound in the Military and Para-military teams.
“We have so many amazing talents lined up in this year’s Games, especially at the semi-finals stage where we began to see them start to circle out.
“It is interesting to note that talents such as these can be identified and further developed to the benefit of the country.
“That is why I am here personally to take advantage of this Games to gauge our sports developmental objectives as a federation and ensure that I confirm the status of these identified talents,” he said.
NAN also reports that an upset occurred in the Men’s Singles Table-tennis event as unseeded Olayinka Oladipupo of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) won Gold after defeating top seed Kehinde Oladele also of NPF 4-2 at the end of a six-set thriller in the final.
Reuben Josiah of the Nigerian Navy and Ganiyu Ashimiyu of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC, finished joint third to settle for Bronze.
In the Women’s Singles category, Halimat Hussein of NSCDC won gold after thrashing Aminat Fashola also of NSCDC 4-1 in the final, while Fatimo Kazeem of NPF and Onyinyechi Mba also of NPF finished joint third.
In the Men’s Double event, the duo of Kehinde Owoboye and Oladipupo of NPF won gold after defeating Josiah and Kehinde Ogidan of Nigerian Navy 3-0 in the final.
Ahmed Abdullahi and Musa Yayi of Federal Fire Service (FFS) settled for the bronze medal.
NSCDC’s Halimat Hussein and Aminat Fashola claimed gold after thrashing Adebisi Sulamon and Mba of NPF 3-0 in the final of the Women’s double event.
The Games, which kicked off on Wednesday, is expected to climax with the closing ceremony on Saturday. – NAN
– Jan. 22, 2021 @ 8:59 GMT |
