By Neha Aggarwal
Segun Toriola is tensed and pressurized. After losing to Egypt in the men’s team finals on day three and mixed doubles finals on day five, he along with Quadri Aruna , will again face Egypt in the men’s doubles finals. This time the opponents are Lashin El-Sayed and Saleh Ahmed.
Emphasizing on the importance of this match Toriola said,
“In the men’s doubles final, we must win at all cost having lost two gold medals to Egypt in this competition. I am confident that with Quadri Aruna , Nigeria can retain the men’s doubles title.”
In the 2015 edition of the ITTF Africa Senior Championship, the men’s doubles title went to Nigeria. The finals was an all Nigerian affair as the duo of Makanjuola Azeem and Qaudri Aruna beat teammates Ojo Onaolapo and Jide Ogidiolu in six games. Moving forward this year, Quadri Aruna has a stronger pair partnering Toriola.
Additionally, Egypt’s top player Omar Assar is not competing in the men’s doubles which gives the Nigerian duo some relief.
The match will be played at 7:15pm local time.
The women’s doubles title has already been assured to Egypt as Farah Abdel-Aziz and Reem El-Eraky will take on Yousra Helmy and Dina Meshref in the finals which will also be played at 7:15pm.
Additionally, both men’s singles and women’s singles will be played until the quarter finals. Thus by the end of the day, the final four spots for the most awaited title of men’s and women’s singles will be determined.
Oshonaike Olufunke, the only Nigerian in the women’s singles will be giving her best to bring home a medal but she will be challenged by the girls from Egypt. In the men’s singles, all eyes will be on Omar Assar and Aruna Quadri who are drawn on different sides. Qaudri put up a great show in the team event and is the favorite to win the men’s singles title.
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