Nigeria showed its supremacy over Canada in the last group match of Group E of the ongoing World Team Table Tennis Championship holding in Tokyo, Japan with a 3-1 win to finish second behind Czech Republic in the group.
Despite Toriola’s 13-15, 8-11, 6-11, loss to Canada’s Andre Ho in the first game, rave of the moment Aruna Quadri put the match at par when he beat Theriault Pierre-Luc 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10.
Ojo Onaolapo increased the lead with another 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 win over Vincent Rousseau-Emond. To compete the 3-1 victory over the Canadians, Toriola was made to work hard in his bid to beat Pierre-Luc 8-11, 11-13, 11-7, 11-6, 11-5.
Also on Thursday, Czech Republic maintained its 100 per cent record in the group with a 3-0 bashing of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Czechs won all their five matches to top the group ahead of Nigeria, which won four of the five matches to play second fiddle to the European.
Nigeria male team is still in the race for promotion, as the knockout stage of the division two will hold on Friday.
However, the female team will be fighting to remain in the division two after losing its fourth game to Turkey on Thursday.
The team inspired by Funke Oshonaike will have to redouble its efforts in the classification matches that will decide the teams that are expected to remain in division two.
Source: Daily Independent
