Sports
Li Ping Looks Forward To ‘Fireworks’ At ITTF Nigeria Open
As the 2017 ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open, begins on August 9 in Lagos, Qatar’s Li Ping, who once played for his country of birth, China, says he looks forward to exciting fireworks on the table.
The Qatari, who will be visiting Africa for the first time, also says he considers the quality of players listed for the five-day tournament as the world’s best.
Tidesports source gathered that the event which will end on August 13 attracts 46,000 dollars prize money.
“I expect the 2017 ITTF Nigeria Open to live up to its billing as one of the topmost tournaments on the ITTF Challenge Series.
“The quality of the players is quite strong this year, and I look forward to some “firecrackers’’ of skills and talents during the competition.
“This is my first trip to Africa and I’m happy to visit Nigeria as my first port of call in the continent,’’ the player said in a statement by the ITTF.
“Nigeria has produced some great talents in table tennis and the country has a rich history when it comes to table tennis.
“I’m expecting to have a great time during the visit and to enjoy the tournament as much as possible.’’
On his intention to sign up for the tournament, Li Ping said: “The quality of the field as well as the opportunity to play in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, is what attracted me to the competition.
“One of Nigeria’s finest players, Aruna Quadri, has played at the Qatar Open many times and I have great respect for him.
“I would like to play him on his own turf as well, and I will appreciate the opportunity of us meeting during the competition.
“This year’s tournament parades a very strong field which is an indication of the interest it has generated across the world.’’
He added: “I believe there has been a remarkable improvement and I think the tournament is going to keep improving yearly.
“Like I said earlier, Nigeria has produced so many great talents like Atanda Musa, Aruna Quadri, Segun Toriola and Bose Kaffo to mention but a few.
“Table tennis is very popular in Nigeria and I am glad to play there.’’
According to the statement, the Qatari’s target is to win the tournament.
“I hope to win the tournament and lift the trophy at the end of the day.
“I’m well prepared and I’m ready to give it my best shot. I know it’s not going to be easy but I believe I am up to the task,’’ Li Ping said.
Hon Dike who spoke with sports journalists shortly after the flag off the 2024 edition of Chairman’s Football Unity Tournament at Botem Tai in Tai LGA, said the tournament is an annual event to promote peace and unity in Tai as well identify budding talents in the area for global competition.
The opening ceremony of the tournament was more like a carnival was witnessed by huge crowd including prominent indigenes of Ogoni Kingdom, sports lovers and people from all works of life.
The LGA boss revealed that special sports committee will be setup in the area to work out modalities to strengthen sports development in Tai.
He advised the participants in the tournament from various wards in the LGA to play the game by the rules and conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and use the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Hon Dike further disclosed that his administration will also give priority attention to skills development among the youth to enhance their human capacity and promote enterprise development in the area.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of Tai LGA Football Council, Elder Wisdom Gorgor said the annual football competition has been a unifying factor in Tai LGA that need to be sustained to forge more unity and development in the area.
He urged the participants to see the competition as an opportunity to embrace football as a full career and earn sustainable livelihood.
Elder Gorgor who commended the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Dike for his visionary leadership and tremendous development achievements recorded in the LGA under his administration, appealled to the Chairman to build a Mini Sports Stadium in the area to promote sporting activities.
The training was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Basketball Court in Kano last Saturday.
According to the Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, the event was part of the league’s commitment to growing broader basketball ecosystem in Nigeria and making the game more accessible across the country.
“Our first Jr. NBA clinic in Kano speaks to our commitment to growing the game in Nigeria and creating more opportunities for boys and girls to learn and play the game,” Abudu said.
“Nigeria has a rich basketball history and abundance of talent, which is evident every time you watch an NBA game. We look forward to continuing to engage with basketball stakeholders, business leaders and members of the community to further the game’s reach and impact on young people around the country,” she added.
The 2024 basketball initiative clinics of NBA Nigeria also included the league’s inaugural Jr. NBA elite camp for 150 boys and age-16 girls held at the American International School in Lagos in July.
Others include the NBA’s building of 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade, Nigeria’s Festival Coins and Salubata named the top two winning businesses at NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator’s inaugural Demo Day in New York City held last September, and the third edition of “NBA Meets Art,” a curated installation celebrating basketball through the lens of Nigerian art and culture as part of West Africa’s premier art fair Art X Lagos, held in November.
Central to this vision is the federation’s investment in capacity building, evident in the just-concluded one-week Level 1 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Coaching Course, which marked a significant milestone for Nigerian badminton.
Held in Abuja, the course brought together 13 young coaches from across Nigeria. The last time such a course was held in the country was in 2017, making this a historic and transformative step.
The training was facilitated by the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) in partnership with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and conducted by Dr. Ahmed Radah, the BCA Development Manager.
Radah, impressed by the talent he witnessed, praised Nigeria’s potential.
“Nigeria is blessed with immense talent and a strong badminton tradition. I believe this country has what it takes to dominate on the global stage,” he remarked.