Tennis Federation Explains Rules For Players’ Selection

Players at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) trials will be selected for the All Africa Games (AAG), camping based on their aggregate points, John Peters, President, Nigeria Table Tennis Umpires Association, has said.

Peters had explained at the competition’s venue at the National Stadium, Lagos, that the best 10 males and 10 females would be selected for camping.

He said the rule was that two points were awarded to a player who won in a game while the loser got a point.

“The female category was scheduled to play 15 games while the males will play 19. At the end of the rounds, players’ cumulative points will be used to select them.

“Those who will qualify will be those with the highest points until we have 10 players each for the male and female categories,” he said.

Peters added that in case there was a tie between two players, then the game where they played each other would be used to decide who qualified.

“If we have a tie between two players, the player who won the game in which they met will carry the day.

“But where it involves three players, a chart will be drawn for them while their points when they played each other will be divided and the player with the highest points qualifies,” he added.

He added that after the first 10 players had been selected, there would be a trial among them to produce the first five for men and women categories.

One of the players, Ojo Onaolapo, representing Ondo State, said that he was satisfied with the officiating at the trials and believed that winning is all about luck.

Onaolapo said that he hoped to be a part of the contingent to the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, in September having won 10 out of 13 rounds played.

“I am not scared playing with our star professionals plying their trade overseas because the game is all about luck because one cannot determine the spin of the ball.

“No matter how hard you train, you can not say whether you will win a game or not,” he said.