Table Tennis: Nigeria's Olajide Omotayo knocked out of Olympics

Nigeria misses out on medal as Table Tennis star, Olajide Omotayo knocked out of Olympics

Table Tennis: Nigeria's Olajide Omotayo knocked out of Olympics

Hassan Abdulsalam 07:15 - 28.07.2024

The Two-time Olympian started on a bright note, winning the first set but surrendered the remaining sets to his opponent.

Nigeria's table tennis campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics got off to a disappointing start as Olajide Omotayo crashed out in the round of 64 of the men's singles event.

The 29-year-old was up against Iran's Noshad Alamiyan and, despite a strong opening set, ultimately succumbed to a 4-1 defeat.

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Omotayo's victory in the first set offered hope, but he was unable to maintain the momentum as Alamiyan claimed the next three sets to secure the win.

Omotayo wins the first set, surrenders other sets

The Two-time Olympian started on a good note, winning the first set 11-6. However, the Iranian player quickly gained the upper hand and won the following two sets: 11-5 and 1-4.

Nigeria misses out on medal as Table Tennis star, Olajide Omotayo knocked out of Olympics

Omotayo showed promise in the fourth set, narrowing the gap, but Alamiyan ultimately prevailed 10-12 and secured the match with an 8-11 victory in the final set.

Aruna's Heartbreaking Loss

Meanwhile, Pulse Sports reported that Quadri Aruna, Nigeria's more experienced player, suffered an even more dramatic exit. The four-time Olympian held a commanding 3-0 lead over Romania's Eduard Ionescu but was unable to close out the match.

Quadri Aruna

In a stunning turnaround, Ionescu fought back to win the next four sets, securing a 4-3 victory and sending Aruna packing. The loss marks a second consecutive first-round exit for Aruna at the Olympics, having also suffered defeat in his Tokyo 2020 debut.

Nigeria's Hopes Rest on Women

Nigeria's superstar, Fatimo Bello.

With the elimination of both Aruna and Omotayo, Nigeria's hopes in the table tennis event now rest solely on the shoulders of Offiong Edem and Fatimo Bello in the women's singles who will start their Journey later today.

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