Nigeria has secured qualification to the semi-finals of men’s Table Tennis Team event at the on-going Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the United Kingdom.
After a sluggish start at NEC Hall 3 on Sunday, an inspired Nigerian side, led by Quadri Aruna, bounced back to defeat Malaysia 3-2, booking a semi-final spot against India on Monday.
In the Doubles event, the duo of Javen Choong and Qi Shen beat Nigeria’s Bode Abiodun and Olajide Omotayo 3-1 (6-11, 12-10, 12-10,11-7).
The singles event saw Malaysia’s Chee Feng Leong lose1-3 to Quadri Aruna (9 -11, 11-6, 5 -11 and 5-11) while Abiodun lost 0-3 to Qi Shen Wong. (10-12, 12 -14, 5-11)
In the third singles game, Leong lost 1-3 (8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11) to Omotayo while the last game also saw Jave Choong succumb to Aruna 1-3 (11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 9-11).
Meanwhile, Edidiong Umoafia clinched a bronze medal for Nigeria in the men’s 67kg Weightlifting event earlier in the day.
Umoafia lifted a combined 290kg in “Snatch’’ as well as “Clean and Jerk’’ categories to get on the podium.
In the boxing event, Nigeria’s Adeyinka Benson defeated his Ghanaian opponent Abubakari Kwesi Quartey 3-2 in Round 16 of the men’s over 71kg-75kg Middleweight category.
Benson has progressed to the quarterfinals. (NAN)
