Nigerian table tennis star, Offiong Edem has urged citizens to rally behind athletes competing in the Paris Olympic Games, offering encouragement rather than criticism.
This comes after Quadri Aruna and Omotayo Olajide’s exit from the men’s singles event on Saturday.
Nigeria’s table tennis campaign got off to a disappointing start on Saturday, as both representatives in the men’s singles event, Quadri Aruna and Omotayo Olajide, suffered early exits.
While Olajide’s 4-1 defeat against Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan didn’t come as a surprise, Aruna’s ouster was shocking as the African champion threw away a three-set lead and lost 4-3 against Romania’s Eduard Ionescu.
After winning the first three sets (11-8, 11-9, 11-6), Aruna was expected to close out the encounter in the fourth set, but a combination of his complacency and Ionescu’s resilience led to a brilliant comeback by the 19-year-old Romanian, who advanced to the round of 32 stage.
Perhaps in the wake of public opinions that trailed Aruna’s ouster, Edem jumped to the defence of her compatriots before her game against Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi on Sunday.
“It’s sad to note that many Nigerians fail to understand sports and how to develop them,” Edem wrote on Instagram.
“Instead of offering constructive support, they sit behind their keypads and type away, pouring out their frustrations on athletes who silently suffer yet strive to be their best. The Olympic Games are the biggest sporting event, and it’s a privilege to be here. All we need is support, not unnecessary criticism.
“Learn to understand that in sports, you win some and lose some. Stop criticising and support Team Nigeria, whether they win or lose. Period…..Peace.”
Nigeria’s last representative in the table tennis event, Fatima Bello, will face France’s Jia Nan Yuan today, July 29, 2024.
If Bello falls to her French opponent, it would bring a premature end to Nigeria’s table tennis journey at the Paris Olympics, with no Nigerian players advancing in any category.
Punch
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