Nigeria has been drawn against India, Slovakia, Vietnam, Switzerland and Turkey for the International Table Tennis World Championships slated to hold in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nigeria will battle for superiority in Group F against highly-rated India team led by veteran Sharath Achanta, who has always being a turn in the flesh of the Nigerian team as well as Aruna Quadri’s conqueror at the 2015 World Championship in China, Soumyajit Ghosh.
Lekan Okusan, who is the African Table Tennis media officer, said: “A lot is expected from Nigeria’s male and female contingent at this World Championship, as they have been drawn against India most especially. They must prove their mettle if they must proceed out of group series in the division B. India is the highest rated team in the group followed by Slovakia, while Nigeria is rated third.
“Also, like their male counterparts, the Nigeria female team is faced with the herculean task as they have been pitched against India as well in Group G, alongside Croatia, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Portugal.”
The battle for promotion to the elite division for Nigeria will commence on February 28 as the matches will be played in a round robin format with the two top teams progressing to the knockout stage.
European champions like Austria will face a familiar foe in their quest for more silverware as they are expected to compete against world champion, China in Group A of the Championship division.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria is drawn in division B of the championship and would have to tackle all adversaries to break into the elite division.
Trending
- Fire guts Governor’s aide’s office inside Government House
- Counter-Terrorism: Ribadu calls for enhanced intelligence sharing in Africa
- FG appoints CDAs, Consuls-General + Full list, posting
- Rebuild, return mosque converted to market — MURIC
- Naira loses 5.3% against dollar at official market
- Rivers: Police nab vigilante Commander, executives for robbery, vandalism
- Patients at Maiduguri Specialist Hospital fetch water as borehole breaks down + Photos
- Sierra Leone throws support to Morocco’s initiatives on Western Sahara