A 15-man Nigerian para table tennis team began competing at the ITTF Lignano Masters Para Open on Wednesday to aid their qualification for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
The Nigerian team has more than 100 players and is competing in the singles, doubles, and team three categories over four days.
The competition will help the players gain ranking points for qualification to the 2024 Games.
The Nigerian team has 2022 Commonwealth Games medalists Isau Ogunkunle, Nasiru Sule, and Faith Obazuaye, as well as Tokyo 2020 Paralympics bronze medalist Tajudeen Agunbiade.
Others are Olufemi Alabi, Victor Farinloye, Kayode Alabi, Bolawa Akingbemisilu, Ibrahim Soares, Faith Obiora, Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi, Maimuna Habib, Kehinde Lawal, Ganiyat Shoremekun and Ahmed Koleosho.
The team captain, Agunbiade, promised that his team will make Nigeria proud in Italy.
He also called for support from Nigerians.
“We just want Nigerians to continue to support special athletes morally and spiritually and by the grace of God, we shall continue to represent and bring glory to the country,” he said.
The team is managed by Sunday Odebode.
