As the defending champions of the International Table Tennis Federation World Tour, tagged: Lagos Open, Egypt’s duo of Omar Assar and Nadeen El-Dawatly have expressed their willingness to retain the title next month.
With all the expected players already confirmed for the five-day championship, Assar, who recently won the ITTF Africa Senior Championship in Cairo, said he would be willing to return to Lagos to hold on to the title from 2013, when the tournament was staged. Assar has clinched the title by beating Nigeria’s Segun Toriola in 2013 and also beating compatriot, El-Sayed Lashin, in 2014 and the world number 43 is hoping to tantalise the Lagos fans with his entertaining style of play having attained the highest rating in his career during the February ITTF ranking.
Assar was also in superb from at the just concluded Kuwait Open, where he made the last 16 as the best player from Africa in the tournament.
The ITTF Africa Senior Championships winner said: “I love Lagos fans because there was never any dull moment during my two trips to Nigeria and I am looking forward to come and defend my title because I cherish the title and the ever-supporting Lagos fans.
“I am looking forward to come to Lagos because the competition has become part of me and I am eager to come and enjoy myself. I know it is not going to be easy against the Nigerians because they have lot of quality players also.”
El-Dawlatly, who finished in third place at the ITTF Africa Senior Championship, is hoping to return to Lagos where he defeated her compatriot, Dina Meshref, to clinch her first World Tour title.
The Egypt Table Tennis Federation is coming to Lagos with over 10 players for the tournament.
Meanwhile organizers of the Lagos Open are perfecting preparation for the tournament while the deadline for players’ registration closed at the weekend.