Teams Rivers, Lagos, Ondo, Cross River, Kwara and Oyo on Thursday qualified for the round of 16 of the teams event of the Table Tennis at the ongoing 21st National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State.
The male and female categories were played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
In the early match of the day, the Lagos female team walked over Plateau, while Oyo also walked over Team Adamawa.
Also in the female team event, Cross River, powered by the duo of Vivian Oku and Hope Udoka, conquered the duo of Khadijat Lawal and Taiwo Ayobami 3-0, 11-6, 11-9 and 11-3.
Other preliminaries results of the female team even are: Kwara 3-0 Oyo, Rivers 3-0 Anambra, Ondo 3-2 Nasarawa and Lagos 3-0 Imo.
In the male team event, Ondo edged out Abia 3-0, Oyo 3-0 Katsina, Ogun 3-0 Bayelsa and Rivers 3-0 Kogi.
The duo of Oku and Udoka, who spoke with NAN, expressed confidence to sail through to the finals of the female team event.
Udoka said she had a panicky start at the festival because she had not rested well after traveling for several hours by road to Asaba.
She said: “I am so excited to win because I had a shaky start due to the fact that I was already tired after the long journey to Asaba.
“I am happy that I pick up my game and won over the course of the game.”
Oku however, said that she did not expect a tough challenge from the Osun State players, adding that she was glad that the victory came their way.
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