Legacy
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, July 24, 2019 (NAN) Ganiat Aruna, a former national table tennis junior champion, on Wednesday applauded Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, the immediate past President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for his good legacies in the sport’s development.
Aruna told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the legacies sustained under the present Ishaku Tikon’s-led board have brought great improvement among junior players.
She said many forms of championships were introduced and sustained during Enitan-Oshodi’s tenure as NTTF president which brought most junior players to limelight and discovered talents even in the cadet categories.
“The tenure of Enitan-Oshodi really brought tremendous growth to table tennis across the country and, particularly to the career of players ranging from cadet, junior to youth categories.
“Most of the players making waves in various recent national championships now were generated from grassroots tournaments introduced because it was busy activities calendar years.
“I am pleased that president Tikon is following suit because I noticed that he is also passionate about contributing his quota to maintain the good standard he met on ground,’’ she said.
The player said the issue of dearth of activities in the sport had become a thing of the past, as more championships have been introduced which meaningfully engage players.
Aruna, wife of Aruna Quadri, ranked 21 in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) player rankings, said that performances of the young players in series of national championships had given her hope.
According to her, the players in the cadet, junior and youth categories were improving by the day, adding that the journey and target for Nigeria to rule table tennis world would be attained.
“I have witnessed not less than three massive turnout for championships within two months, the national women open, Africa Games Open trials and the just-concluded National Junior and Youth League.
“They are doing wonderfully well in these national championships and intercontinental tournaments, and I am very happy about it because it is a good development for us,’’ she added.
The Ogun State-based player and mother of three, urged the players to continue with the good step, noting that she would continue to support them with kits to train. (NAN)
MIL/KM/PDE
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(Edited by Kabir Muhammad/Peter Ejiofor)