Table Tennis: Africa to learn from Chinese, Japanese technicality

Table Tennis: Africa to learn from Chinese, Japanese technicality

Hassan Abdulsalam 15:44 - 29.05.2023

The World table tennis Championship ended on Sunday, May 28 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban, South Africa.

The Deputy President of the African Table Tennis Federation, Wahid Oshodi has revealed that they are working with the Chinese and Japanese to learn the technicalities of improving table tennis in Africa.

Oshodi revealed this after South Africa successfully hosted the World Table Tennis Championship for the first time in 84 years.

https://twitter.com/ProudlyHassan/status/1663188335915937792?s=20

Pulse Sports reported that the World table tennis Championship ended on Sunday, May 28 at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban, South Africa.

China rules World Table Tennis Championship

Fan Zhendong of China retained his men’s title after successfully defending the St. Bride Vase with a commanding 4-1 victory over Wang Chuqin (8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 12-10, 11-13, 11-3)

Sun Yingsha wins women's singles
Sun Yingsha wins women's singles Sun Yingsha wins women's singles

In the women’s singles, Chinese Sun Yingsha also claimed the title with a 4-2 (5-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6) win over Chen Meng.

Africa to learn technicalities from the Chinese and Japanese

The ITTF Executive Vice President (Governance, Communications, Protocol & World Ranking) disclosed that there are talents in Africa who need to be given technical support to become world champions.

Wahid Oshodi
Deputy President of the African Table Tennis Federation, Wahid Oshodi Deputy President of the African Table Tennis Federation, Wahid Oshodi

He added that the Performance of African giants, Omar Assar and Quadri Aruna at the championship inspired the young players.

He said, "We are working with the Chinese and Japanese because their technicality is superior to all countries and we need to learn from them how they get the children playing at a younger age but without any doubt, the talents is in here in Africa.

"The Performance of Omar Assar reaching the Quarterfinal and Quadri Aruna gives hope to the younger ones, more talented and skillful at a younger age and can do more and better with our support and the results will start coming."

Hosting World championships will positively impact the Continent

The former Chairman of the Nigerian Olympic Committee added that Africa has successfully hosted a historic world championship.

Wahid Oshodi alongside ITTF President Petra Sörling with the winners of 2023 World Table Tennis Championship
Wahid Oshodi alongside ITTF President Petra Sörling with the winners of 2023 World Table Tennis Championship Wahid Oshodi alongside ITTF President Petra Sörling with the winners of 2023 World Table Tennis Championship

He said further that the hosting will have a great impact on the continent.

He said, "It is very important for us to host the World Championship, Africa hasn't had it for a very long time for 84 years, and people have believed that we didn't have the infrastructure in Africa. I believed we pull up a fantastic championship with lots of flavor and we are very proud we could do it this way.

"Hosting the world championships will positively impact the continent, we have seen the young players coming through across the continent, and this gives a better focus on what we need to put together they have seen the top players here in South Africa and this will encourage them."

Wahid Oshodi alongside ITTF President Petra Sörling with the winners of 2023 World Table Tennis Championship
Wahid Oshodi alongside ITTF President Petra Sörling with the winners of 2023 World Table Tennis Championship Wahid Oshodi alongside ITTF President Petra Sörling with the winners of 2023 World Table Tennis Championship

Africa will be hosting another World table tennis event tagged WTT Contender Lagos 2023 at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos slated for June 12-18.

Related content

Tags: