NTTF Postpones Trials For Commonwealth Games

The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has postponed the planned final trials to select players for the Commonwealth Games holding in New Delhi in October.

The trials were initially scheduled to hold at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, between June 22 and June 23.

NTTF secretary Segun Oguntade told newsmen  in Lagos yesterday that the trials were postponed because the venue was not available for that period.

“We went to confirm the date on Monday at the Liberty Stadium only to be informed that a basketball tournament had been scheduled for the venue before we booked our date,’’ Oguntade said.

He said the trials would now take place on June 24 and June 25 at the Liberty Stadium.

Oguntade said the trials, at which the players’ skills and experience would be assessed, were compulsory as players for the Games would be selected during the exercise.

“We want to use the trials to actually assess their individual performances so as to select the competent ones who will represent the country in New Delhi in October,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, 20 home-based players, 10 male and 10 females, who were selected at the second stage of trials held in April, were  currently in camp, he said.

These players, he said, would be joined by  their foreign-based counterparts such as Segun Toriola, Seun Ajetumobi, Monday Merotohun, Abiodun Bode and Funke Oshinaike. 

“Letters have been sent to them to be available for the trials which incidentally comes up during their off season,’’ Oguntade added.