2018 ITTF World Team Championships: Omotayo eager to consolidate on Gold Coast feat

Nigeria’s table tennis star, Olajide Omotayo is keen on consolidating on his performance at the Gold Coast
Commonwealth Games when he takes to the table at the 2018 ITTF World Team Championships in Halmstad, Sweden.

Omotayo who was part of the men’s team that settled for silver in Gold Coast said he is confident that the team would surely be among the contenders for promotion to the championship division in Sweden.

A confident Nigerian star added: “The team has what it takes to quality to the championship division as the team is made up of top players with experience. My expectation is for the team to qualify to the elite division and I am also aiming to win all my matches”

“Also having the privilege to play all the matches in the team event at the Commonwealth Games was really motivating and I am ready to keep up the performance in Sweden with the help of my teammates,” he said.

“Having the likes of Aruna Quadri, Segun Toriola and Bode Abiodun in the team means a lot because they are more experienced than me and they all motivate me one way or the other.”

Aside doing well in Sweden, Omotayo would cherish every moment in the team particularly being selected among the best four that will represent a nation of over 200 million population.

“Representing Nigeria has been my dream since I started playing on the streets of Lagos many years back, it is like a dream come true and I’m ready to give my 100 percent at all time.”

Recalling what he gained in Gold Coast, Omotayo said: “We lost in the men’s finals against the Indians and I also had the opportunity to play all the matches. From this, my experience is
getting higher day-by-day and I am satisfied with my performance but still many corrections need to be made.”

Being his debut appearance at the World Team Championships, an excited Omotayo said: “I am looking forward to having a good tournament and my target is to win all my matches.”