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Muibat, Animashaun For ITTF Hopes Week in China

By Editor
13 June 2015   |   12:38 am
The Nigerian Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has listed two teenagers, Abayomi Animashuan and Muibat Bello, as the country’s representatives at the ITTF Hopes Week holding in Shanghai, China later this month.
Muibat Bello

Muibat Bello

The Nigerian Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has listed two teenagers, Abayomi Animashuan and Muibat Bello, as the country’s representatives at the ITTF Hopes Week holding in Shanghai, China later this month.

They will be accompanied by two of Nigeria’s greatest players, Segun Toriola and Funke Oshonaike, to the training exercise.   Reacting to the development, an elated Animashaun, who is taking part in the ITTF WJC in Egypt, said, “I am glad that I will be heading to China for the Hopes Week meet too.

I am happy at this opportunity given to me by NTTF to meet the best young players like me from around the world.   “I have overcome my fears of challenging the white skinned players. I used to think that I could not play against them. The Egypt Junior and Cadet Open has helped me to improve my confidence level and this will boost my chances in China.’’

In the mini-cadet event that Animashaun is campaigning in Egypt, he said: “I am targeting a gold medal in the singles, irrespective of players I am going to play against in the competition.”

Also excited by the prospect of playing in China, Muibat Bello, hopes to win the title in the “girls’ singles and I will ensure I do my best. “I know it will be a tough one because of what I have heard and read about the Chinese players.

I am going to watch out for them.’ ’   On the choice of Animashaun and Bello, NTTF President, Wahid Oshodi said: “They have been maintaining superb performances at national level and we will continue to assist them to improve their skills.

And of course they need to attend more tournaments of this nature as we need to expose our young players promptly to the rigours of world-class tournaments’ style of play,” he added.   The ITTF Hopes Week holds in Shanghai, China from June 23 to July 5.

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