Quadri, Omotayo lift Nigeria against Argentina

Aruna Quadri and Olajide Omotayo saved the day for Nigeria at the ongoing 2018 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Team Championships against Argentina in the second group match of the competition.

Before the encounter, it was clear that the match would throw up a surprise as the Argentine team was determined to avenge their previous losses to Nigeria.

Cifuentes Horacio who started the game for the Argentine. He was set up against veteran Segun Tortola but the young Argentine won at 12-10, 15-13, 11-9.This win boosted the confidence of the Argentine going into the second game with Quadri facing Alto Gaston, but Quadri’s powerful drive was all he needed to defeat the Argentine 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 to restore parity in the match.

22-year-old Olajide Omotayo humbled Galvano Nicolas 11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-3 to put Nigeria ahead, much to the admiration of the former and current Presidents of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi and Ishaku Tikon.

Quadri returned to the table for the fourth game against Cifuentes Horacio. Quadri showed his class and less than 30 minutes he coasted to victory with 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 to give Nigeria a convincing 3-1 win.

Nigeria now shares four points with Slovakia on top of the group table.