NAN-S-17
Tennis
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Dec. 6, 2016 (NAN) Silver Bird’s, Victor Iroele on Tuesday in Abuja defeated defending champion, Michael Obasi of Hot FM in three straight sets to emerge winner of the 2016 FCT SWAN Table-Tennis Tournament.
The game played at the Old Parade Ground saw number one seed, Obasi clash with the second seed, Iroele in a bitter rivalry that dates back to three years.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that both players were familiar foes having met each other on the same stage on three separate occasions with Obasi coming out victorious in all three.
Both players were drawn bye into the third round and qualified for the finals after sweeping their opponents in two straight sets.
Iroele had earlier won Jonathan Ameh of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in the first semifinal 2-0 (11-4, 11-6).
Obasi also defeated Bunmi Haruna of Cool FM, 2-0 (11-5, 11-7).
The three-set thrilling final encounter saw Iroele coming off the blocks fastest to take two straight sets 11-5, 11-9.
The defending champion however fought back in the third set racing to a 10-8 lead, but Iroele who was determined to break the jinx, came from behind to level scores at 10-10 before taking the set 13-11.
“I feel so excited, I feel so happy. I have been in the finals four times, losing on previously three times to Obasi.
“Now coming around this time to win him in a convincing manner 3-0 shows that I was determined as I couldn’t be four times unlucky,’’ Iroele said.
He noted that the key to his victory was to go back to the drawing board to correct his mistakes of the past.
“I had to add some little tips that I didn’t apply in previous editions.
“I had to also decide to raise my confidence level.
“You know at times, there is a trend in sports when you lose once, twice or thrice, you begin to feel that you cannot cross the bridge.
“But for me, I felt it was neither now or never. So, I made up my mind that it was time to win and join the veterans,’’ he said.
Obasi, on his part praised the newly crowned champion for the feat.
“It reminds me of the way Andy Murray jumped to the world number one in Tennis this year.
“I think Iroele deserves to be the winner this year having worked very hard for a shot at the title for the past four years,’’ he said.
NAN reports that Ameh beat Haruna 2-0 to settle for the third position.
The veterans category saw Mike Oboh of Reuters News Agency defeat Ganiyu Oloyode of Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) 2-0 in the final to emerge winner.
Also in the draught event, Kayode Raymond of FRCN (Kapital FM) came from behind to defeat Amar Ignis of Radio Nigeria 2-1 to emerge winner.
The 2016 FCT SWAN Week which began on Saturday is expected to end on Thursday. (NAN)
VO/LAB/EEE
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Edited by Lydia Beshel/Ese E. Ekama