Ahead 2014 Commonwealth Games: Quadri sure of table tennis’ medals,
calls for more support
Among the medals won by Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games, table tennis
has contributed some of it even as the next games holds in Scotland,
Portugal-based Aruna Quadri believes with more support, Nigeria stands a
chance of clinching medals in Glasgow.
Quadri, who defied all odds to make the last 16 at the International
Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-sanctioned World Tour tagged Spanish
Open, admitted that the attention giving to football is really affecting
the fortune of other sports, particularly table tennis adversely.
“We really need support and motivation as we are hoping that things
must change in our country's sports because priority is just being
accorded to football. For us in table tennis, things are not going well
because is not giving enough support to the sport and this is putting us
in a difficult situation all the time. Most times, we spend our personal
money to attend competitions in order to be well prepared the
Commonwealth Games. We really appreciate the financial support the
President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi
has been giving to us since January,” he said.
Unlike their foreign counterparts who have been getting granting from
their sports ministry to attend tournaments in order to be in top form
for the games, Quadri however, pleaded with the National Sports
Commission (NSC) to consider supporting the players with grant to attend
competitions.
“I wish to take part in more pro tours before Commonwealth Games but
I need support and motivation, I have spent a lot on myself and I am in
need of financial support to keep playing tournament regularly so as to
be in good shape for Glasgow Games,” he added.
He expressed optimism that Team Nigeria has the wherewithal to be
among the medal winning teams in Scotland, but said, “We stand a
chance of winning medal in Scotland because at the Spanish Opens, we had
five English players and five Indian players with one English and two
Indians making it to the last 64. But as Nigerians, we were only two
that took part in the competition and only one of us made it to the main
draw (round of 64). England and Indian are not better than us at
present, but because they are playing tournament regularly to keep
improving. We also need support to be playing tournament regularly and
with that, we can be doing so much better than before,” he admitted.
“We are seriously calling the attention of NSC and stakeholders to
support table tennis so that we can regain our past lost glory in the
game,” he said.
.
calls for more support
Among the medals won by Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games, table tennis
has contributed some of it even as the next games holds in Scotland,
Portugal-based Aruna Quadri believes with more support, Nigeria stands a
chance of clinching medals in Glasgow.
Quadri, who defied all odds to make the last 16 at the International
Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-sanctioned World Tour tagged Spanish
Open, admitted that the attention giving to football is really affecting
the fortune of other sports, particularly table tennis adversely.
“We really need support and motivation as we are hoping that things
must change in our country's sports because priority is just being
accorded to football. For us in table tennis, things are not going well
because is not giving enough support to the sport and this is putting us
in a difficult situation all the time. Most times, we spend our personal
money to attend competitions in order to be well prepared the
Commonwealth Games. We really appreciate the financial support the
President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi
has been giving to us since January,” he said.
Unlike their foreign counterparts who have been getting granting from
their sports ministry to attend tournaments in order to be in top form
for the games, Quadri however, pleaded with the National Sports
Commission (NSC) to consider supporting the players with grant to attend
competitions.
“I wish to take part in more pro tours before Commonwealth Games but
I need support and motivation, I have spent a lot on myself and I am in
need of financial support to keep playing tournament regularly so as to
be in good shape for Glasgow Games,” he added.
He expressed optimism that Team Nigeria has the wherewithal to be
among the medal winning teams in Scotland, but said, “We stand a
chance of winning medal in Scotland because at the Spanish Opens, we had
five English players and five Indian players with one English and two
Indians making it to the last 64. But as Nigerians, we were only two
that took part in the competition and only one of us made it to the main
draw (round of 64). England and Indian are not better than us at
present, but because they are playing tournament regularly to keep
improving. We also need support to be playing tournament regularly and
with that, we can be doing so much better than before,” he admitted.
“We are seriously calling the attention of NSC and stakeholders to
support table tennis so that we can regain our past lost glory in the
game,” he said.
.
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