Offiong rallies Nigeria’s table tennis team

Nigeria table tennis player Offiong Edem is psyching up her teammates representing the country in the event at the 2024 Olympic Games starting July 26 in Paris, France, According Sports Extra reports.

Edem, Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo, and Fatima Bello will fly the country’s flag in the event scheduled to run from 27 July to 10 August at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, with a total of 172 table tennis players participating.

Edem, 37, the oldest member of the Nigerian team, in a statement on her Instagram page urged the rest of her teammates success in Paris, urging them to deliver after putting in the work and making the sacrifices.

“The thrill of making it to the Olympic Games is still fresh, but our focus is already on the next step. I wish you all success in Paris! We’ve put in the work, made the sacrifices, and now it’s time to deliver. Let’s do this, team,” stated Edem, who secured her fourth berth at the Games at the African Olympic qualifying event in Kigali, having participated in the 2004, 2012, 2016, and 2020 editions of the quadrennial sports fiesta.

Aruna, who will be competing in the men’s singles, heads into the Games as the highest-ranked Nigerian player as the world’s number 19.

The 35-year-old, who will be making his fourth appearance, having participated in the 2012, 2016, and 2020 editions, reached the quarterfinals in 2016.

He recently confidently asserted that he is adequately prepared for the Games.

“Immediately after we finished in Tokyo, the preparation had already started. I’ve played in several international tournaments in different places. I can say that I am well prepared,” Aruna told Sportsville.

He added, “The goals are the same; you know, everyone wants to do well and everyone wants to win a medal, but sometimes it is not all about winning a medal. It’s about giving your best.

“Don’t forget 2016 in Rio; I was very close to winning a medal. I got to the quarterfinals, but four years later, it was not the same performance, but it is what it is. Nothing is really for sure, but this time around, I strongly believe that I will do my best.

“Against the Chinese, it’s like 60–40, and against other Asians, I can tell you that is 50–50. I have won against some Chinese players and am just yet to win against world No. 1 and world No. 2. My objective is to do much more than I did in Tokyo and get something better than I did in Rio.”

Omotayo spoke with the same level of confidence as he makes his second appearance at the Games, featuring in the men’s singles event.

He said, “My second appearance at the Olympics means a lot to me.

“It is not easy to qualify from Africa. We have so many good players in Africa now, and I was able to qualify. Looking at the ranking system, it affected me about a year ago. My ranking dropped significantly, and I wasn’t sure if I would be part of the second pick for Team Nigeria. But thankfully, I reclaimed my spot and qualified for the Rwanda qualifications. This opportunity means a lot to me.”

Bello, who will be competing in the women’s singles alongside Edem, secured her maiden ticket to the Games at the African Olympic qualifying event in Kigali, where she defeated Algeria’s Lynda Loughrabi 4-2 in the women’s final.

The table tennis tournaments have equal distribution between men and women, who will compete across five medal events (two per gender and a mixed), the exact same amount as those in the previous editions.