ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open: Mexico Arrives, Nigeria’s Top Seeding In Men’s Doubles Too

Mexico became the first country to arrive Lagos for the ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open, as France-based duo of Salvador Uribe and Mercedes Madrid touched down aboard an Air France flight in Lagos.
Also, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola joined the league of foreign legions that will compete in the $46,000 prize money tournament which serves off on Wednesday at the Molade Okoya-Thomas hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
In the men’s doubles, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun have been seeded number one in the men’s doubles seeding while officials from Egypt and Algeria are expected to arrive on Monday May 16 while players from Europe and Africa are also expected in Lagos for the tournament.
Meanwhile, 2010 African champion, Sarah Hanffou is expected to partner with Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike in the women’s doubles of the championship.
An excited Hanffou said: “I am delighted to participate to this tournament for many reasons. Nigeria is one of the best table tennis nations in Africa. They are blessed with a lot of good players. Moreover, it is great that The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) organises a tournament in Africa. It enables African players to participate to a tournament in Africa. I hope it will encourage others countries to do the same. Lagos open will be my first tournament this Sudan. I started again practice. I hope my level of playing will be back,” she said.
The 2010 African champion added: “The level of the tournament is high. My goal is to give my best and enjoy myself. I look forward to playing doubles with Olufunke Oshonaike. Last year in Suzhou, we played for the first time, and we did pretty good. It is a honour to play with her,” she said.