Fixtures for the table tennis events at the 19th National Sports Festival in Abuja were delayed by 24 hours, due to difficulties in arranging schedules for disabled players.
Sports247.ng learnt that officials of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) admitted that compilation of names and slots for the para-players were affected by logistics and structural issues, but promised that it would all be sorted out soonest.
Such it was that matches in the para, able and deaf categories of the ping pong competition did not begin on Thursday as earlier scheduled.
Head of the competition’s table tennis technical committee, John Peters said this was primarily due to the classification of disabled players and the disqualification of national team star, Segun Toriola, who is said to have been registered by two states.
However, Peters, who also disclosed that players from 32 states were registered to participate, said that the table tennis competition will get underway eventually on Friday.
He said 11 female and 17 male players will participate in the deaf table tennis while in the able category 85 men and 53 female will participate.
The table tennis buff then promised that the competition would start on Friday at 10am in all 10 events, with the singles matches in the three categories of able, deaf and para.
Peters added: “The draw for the para players is not ready because the officials have to finish the classification of players.
“For the able players’ games, one Segun Toriola has been registered twice by two different states, Akwa Ibom and Delta.
“The rule says we should disqualify such a player. That is what we have done. The draw for deaf players is ready and the list is in order.
“We have to put everything in order and we are still expecting other states. They may arrive before Friday morning.”
