NAN-S-5
Inclusion
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Jan. 12, 2018 (NAN) Faith Obazuaye, a Para table tennis player currently preparing for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, has appealed to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) to include Para events in subsequent buildup championships.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the recently concluded O’Jez and Friends Open Table Tennis Championships, sponsored by Joseph Odobeatu, was used as a tune-up for the athletes.
The championships which took place at the National Stadium, Lagos featured men and women singles event, and participation was restricted to able-bodied players in the national camp.
Obazuaye said she was not happy that the competition was restricted to only able-bodied athletes.
“We all took part in the NTTF organised national trials in December, and immediately resumed camp and the coaches have been training the team together.
“But to my greatest surprise, a championships was held on Saturday and only the able-bodied players were given the opportunity to feature at the events and I think it’s unfair.
“So, the message we are trying to pass across to the federation that organises our championships is that they need to include us so that we can also have that sense of belonging.
“Besides, the Commonwealth Games is a national assignment and it is fundamental that we should be part of any buildup championships because that is the reason behind the O’Jez sponsored championships,’’ she said.
She added that it was only through such pre-tournament championships that the technical officials would be able to properly assess the players.
NAN reports that 16 players made up of eight able-bodied and Para are currently in the national camp, as part of preparations for the Games holding from April 4 to April 15 in Gold Coast, Australia. (NAN)
MIL/ERO/PDE
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(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)