11 Sep 2017

A 43rd birthday on Monday 18th September rapidly approaching, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola has set standards in Africa which stand head and shoulders about his contemporaries.

Commencing in 1992 in Barcelona, seven unbroken appearances in the Olympic Games, at the African Games from 1995 in Harare, on four consecutive occasions the Men’s Singles winner; those two achievements illustrate the reasons why Segun Toriola stands apart from the rest.

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

It also illustrates why his services are respected and in demand; last season he played in the Belgian League; this year he returns to Bayard Argentan in the French League, a club he represented for a decade and a club seeking to return to former glories.

Once in the top division, they now in the next level down and in the season 2016 – 2017 almost experienced relegation to the third tier.

Segun Toriola spoke to Olalekan Okusan, the ITTF-Africa Press Officer

“I enjoy playing table tennis and I will continue as long as my body carries me; when I moved to Belgium, I wanted a new challenge which for me was good. However, when the season was over in Belgium, I got a call from my former club in France that they needed my services again.

I thought it over and decided it was good to return because the standard in France is higher than Belgium. Even though we are playing in the second division, it is more competitive compared to the first division in Belgium.

It is a club I represented for 10 years. It is always good to return to the warm embrace of the management and members of the club. I am still in good form and I hope we can fight for a place in the top division this season.”

General News Segun TORIOLA