Ambode Dangles Cash Reward At Nigerian Players During Nigeria Open ITTF Challenge
The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode has promised to give cash bonuses to successful Nigerian players participating in the much-anticipated ITTF Challenge Seamaster Nigeria Open which begins on Wednesday August 8 at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
Heavyweights from 26 countries including host – Nigeria will battle for share of $46,000 prize money of the tournament.
No fewer than 169 players made up of 101 men and 68 women will compete in six events at the five-day competition which has become Africa’s elite tournament sanctioned by the world table tennis ruling body – International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
The Director General of the Lagos State Sport Commission (LSSC), Babatunde Bank-Anthony made known the plan to reward Nigerian players at the press conference in Lagos on Tuesday August 7.
“The Governor’s bonus for this year is that His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has instituted a bonus for Nigerian players that will do well in all categories both Men singles and Women Singles because we know that they may not get to win the titles”, Bank-Anthony said
Bank-Anthony also said, “We will make use of the bonus wisely to encourage Nigerian players to go further and we believe that this will help them to at least improve and perform better”.
From the inception of the ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open, no Nigerian player has won the title in the singles events but assurance from Olajide Omotayo and Esther Oribamise has shown that the host will not disappoint this year.
Commonwealth Games silver medalist, Olajide Omotayo believes with the present form of some of the players, they are ready to wrestle the titles from the foreigners. “We are all ready for the tournament this year because we have the quality to match the foreigners and I am hopeful that we will give our best and hope for the best this. The likes of Aruna Quadri, Bode Abiodun and Segun Toriola have always inspired us that we can be the best in the game. We are fully ready to see Nigerian players on the podium this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, at the press briefing to herald the commencement of the championship, the Tournament Director, Kweku Tandoh, described this year’s tournament has the biggest so far, while adding that with the quality of organization, players across the globe are now willing to be part of the championship.
“We are so excited that the tournament is growing each year and this year we have more countries and players and for us, this goes to show that we are raising and we will continue to do that as long as we are getting the needed support particularly the huge support from our title sponsor – Baba Ijebu and host – Lagos State Government. Everything is set and for the next five days, people will watch the best of table tennis made in Lagos,” Tandoh said.
The Competition Manager, Mounir Bessah, lauded the LOC for always adding colour to the tournament while hoping that more players would be willing to be part of it in future. “I am happy with the organization and ITTF believes the LOC has done a lot to raise the profile of this tournament and I can see improvement every year,” Bessah added.
For the President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Ishaku Tikon, the host – Lagos State has indeed put Nigeria on the global map by providing the platform for the tournament to thrive. “We will remain grateful to Lagos State Government for their unflinching support at ensuring that
Oribamise, a bronze medalist at the 3rd African Youth Games in Algiers is optimistic that things would look up for Nigerian players this year. “We are all in good shape and I can tell you that all of us know what is at stake. Apart from the prize money we are also aiming to improve our ranking with this tournament,” she said.
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