Rabat 2019: Olajide Omotayo Defeats Haruna Quadri, Toriola To Win Gold In Table Tennis

Olajide Omotayo Defeats Haruna Quadri, Toriola To Win Gold In Table Tennis

By Admin

Nigeria's Olajide Omotayo on Thursday surprisingly emerged champions of Africa in table tennis after defeating his compatriots and athletes captain, Segun Toriola and Haruna Quadri at the ongoing 2019 African Games in Morocco.

Tournament favourite Aruna Quadri lost to compatriot Olajide Omotayo who before the final conquered three of the best players in Africa to be crowned the Champion of the continent.

Enroute to the final Omotayo defeated two former Champions, Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh and Nigeria’s Segun Toriola in the Quarterfinal and semifinal stages.

The final produced the very best of Table Tennis on the continent as Omotayo threw caution to the with a 3-0 lead (13-11, 11-9, 16-14) but Nigeria Open Champion Quadri reduce the lead to 3-2 with 8-11, 13-15 wins in the fourth and fifth games.

Omotayo produced a stellar performance in the sixth match to dispatch 12-10 as he claim Nigeria’s second gold medal in the table tennis event.

A satisfied Omotayo said this title is a defining moment in his career.

“I am very happy winning the African Games. I am so proud of myself becuase this is a big one for my career and it was a good journey for me from the start of this competition having won against some of the best players in the continent.”

In the women’s singles, Dina Meshref of Egypt retained her title to become the first lady to win the title back-to-back.

She beat Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou, who had earlier edged out Nigeria’s Edem Offiong in the semifinal, Meshref won the match 11-7, 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 to thrill the Egyptian spectators.

An elated Meshref said she was happy to set a new record in table tennis.

“I am so happy becoming the first female Egyptian to win the women singles title back-to-back for the first time. But I must admit that it was not easy at all because the four years difference between the two titles was very long for me to be able to keep up with my performance. I am so excited that I was able to retain the title again,”

With this performance, Nigeria table tennis team will hope to build on it ahead of future championships.