Kuti,Udoaka crash, Edem advances in African Games

Nigeria’s teenage table tennis sensations, Matthew Kuti and Sukurat Aiyelabegan, suffered an early exit in the men and women’s singles events at the 13th African Games, while Hope Udoaka advanced to the next round, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

All three players are making their debuts at the African Games.

The 12-year-old Kuti started his campaign at the championship on a winning note, defeating Ghana’s Israel Aklie 3-0 but failed to build on his first-ever win at the African Games as he lost 3-1 (11-7, 5-11, 7-11, 11-13) to Algeria’s Maheidine Bella and becoming the first Nigerian to exit the championship in Accra.

The national junior champion won the first set 11-7 at the Accra International Conference Centre but could not curtail the firepower of the 16-year-old Algerian, who forced him into several errors. The defeat was Kuti’s first since December.

Speaking after his defeat, Kuti said, “I think I gained some experience playing and watching some of the best players in Africa.

“I’m not happy I lost early in the competition because my opponent gave me a lot of trouble, especially with his backhand. It was a good experience and I look forward to more opportunities to play at the top level.

“I am so happy coming to Ghana and I am sure playing with the team that has the likes of Aruna Quadri.”

Aiyelabegan on her part, exited the women’s singles after she lost 3-1 to Ranto Rakotondrazaka from Madagascar in her debut game, just as Fatimo Bello, Esther Oribamise and Hope Udoaka crashed out in the round of 32.

Udoaka lost 3-0 to Dina Meshref in the round of 32 while Bello lost 3-2 to Angola’s Lucie Mobarek in a keenly contested tie. Udoaka on her part lost 3-0 to Dina Meshref.

Meanwhile, Offiong Edem became the first Nigerian to qualify for the quarter-final of the table tennis women’s singles.

In the round of 64, Edem defeated Juma Doreen from Kenya 3-0, she also outclassed Sonday Rochica in the round of 32 before beating Marwa Alhodaby of Egypt 3-0 in the last 16.

Edem will face another Egyptian, Mariam Alhodaby, in one of the quarter-final matches.

Reacting to her win, Edem admitted that it was a tough passage to the last eight of the competition.

“I think table tennis is getting tougher now because everybody is playing well and there is no minnow in the game again,”Edem told Sports Africana.

“Who can imagine that an Algerian girl will beat a Nigerian but it has happened in Ghana. There is no doubt that we must raise our game to make it to the podium and I will surely die here to be able to make the medal zone in the singles.”