Five Nigerians in the table tennis event of the on-going 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo ended on the losing side.
Ahmed Koleoso began the chain of losses when he fell 0-3 to Thomas Bruechle of Germany at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium as he recorded 5-11 3-11 8-11 in a Group D match of the men’s singles Class 3 which lasted just 15 minutes.
Less than an hour later, Tajudeen Agunbiade went on to lose 0-3 (5-11 7-11 6-11) to Ivan Mai of Ukraine in a Class 9 Group B action.
Victor Farinloye also lost 2-3 to Ukraine’s Viktot Didukh in a Class 8 Group A match, rallying back after the first set a 2-1 lead. After losing 6-11, he won 11-7 and 11-9, only to go on to lose 11-9 11-3.
Later in the day, Olufemi Alabi joined in losing by falling 0-3 to China’s Lian Hao 6-11 4-11 9-11 in a Class 10 Group C game.
Faith Obazuaye capped an unimpressive day for Team Nigeria by losing in the women’s singles Class 10 in a Group C fixture as she lost 0-3 Tien Shiau of Chinese Taipei, 9-11 3-11 5-11.
The sixth member of the para-table tennis contingent in Team Nigeria, Isau Ogunkunle, will join the fray today at the same venue as he faces Maxime Thomas of France in a Class 4 Group C fixture.
NAN reports that all six players, including Ogunkunle, will return later this afternoon for their respective second matches in their groups.
Team Nigeria is featuring five male players and one female player in the para-table tennis events at the Games.
Suwaibidu Galadima will on behalf of Team Nigeria join the para-athletics competition tomorrow in round one heat 1 of the men’s 100 metres T47.
