By Francis Ajuonuma
Nigeria’s table tennis prodigy, Taiwo Mati is among the seven players granted wildcard to compete in the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Lagos 2023 which serves off on Monday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas multi-purpose Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
Four other Nigerian players who were also granted wildcards are Olajide Omotayo, Offiong Edem, Esther Oribamise and Ajoke Ojomu.
While Mati and Omotayo will be competing in the men’s singles, the trio of Edem, Oribamise and Ojomu according to the WTT Contender Lagos schedule made available ThisNigeria are listed to battle for honour in the ladies singles.
Portugal’s Joao Monteiro ranked 170 in the World for men and Kim Nayeong of Korea ranked 95 in the women rankings complete the list of players awarded wildcards for the main draw.
However, the only Nigerian player already through to the main draw without a wildcard is Fatimo Bello, who ranked 53 in the world.
Meanwhile, the qualifying games for the main draw will be decided from June 12-14, while games in the main draw are scheduled to hold from June 15-18.
A total of 89 players of which 28 of them are Nigerian have been listed to do battle in the qualifying round for the eight slots remaining for the main draw in the men’s and ladies’ singles respectively. 32 players each will be drawn in the main draw for the men’s and ladies’ singles.
Twenty-four players are already listed in the ladies’ singles main draw awaiting eight more players from the qualifiers, while 23 players have already made it to the men’s main draw
Laurels will also be battled for in the men’s doubles, ladies’ doubles and mixed doubles.
A total of $75, 000 is at stake with trophies.
