TABLE TENNIS

In their usual style, Nigeria showed its supremacy over Canada in the
last group match of Group E of the ongoing World Team Table Tennis
Championship holding in Tokyo, Japan.
  In most of their meeting in major competitions, Nigeria have always
dominated Canada and again in Tokyo on Thursday, the Segun Toriola-led
male team overcame the Canadians 3-1 to finish second behind Czech
Republic in the group.
  Despite Toriola’s 13-15, 8-11, 6-11, loss to Canada’s Andre Ho in
the first game, rave of the moment Aruna Quadri put the match at par
when he beat Theriault Pierre-Luc 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10.
  Ojo Onaolapo increased the lead with another 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6
win over Vincent Rousseau-Emond. To compete the 3-1 victory over the
Canadians, Toriola was made to work hard in his bid to beat Pierre-Luc
8-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5.
  Also on Thursday, Czech Republic maintained their 100 per cent record
in the group with a 3-0 bashing of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  The Czechs won all their five matches to top the group ahead of
Nigeria, which won four of the five matches to play second fiddle to the
European.
  Nigeria male team is still in the race for promotion, as the knockout
stage of the division two will hold on Friday.
  Meanwhile, the female team will be fighting to remain in the division
two after losing its fourth game to Turkey on Thursday.
  The team inspired by Funke Oshonaike will have to redouble its efforts
in the classification matches that will decide the teams that are
expected to remain in division two.