Time difference, late arrival may affect our performance, says Toriola

Following the eight hours time difference coupled with late arrival in Australia, seven-time Olympian – Segun Toriola believes these factors may affect the performance of Team Nigeria in the table tennis event of 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Toriola who will be departing from his base in France to Gold Coast told SportingLife yesterday that most of them would have difficulty in getting used to the time in Australia.

“It is indeed not going to be easy for the team because the eight hours time difference is a major factor to our performance.

Also arriving late in Australia is another setback to us because most of our opponents are already used to the time and weather in Gold Coast. So it is going to be tough for us particularly in the team event,” Toriola said.

Toriola who won the first gold medal in the singles event of the Commonwealth Games at Machester 2002 believes Nigeria still has the quality to make the podium this year.

“I still believe we can make something out of Australia but it is not going to be on a platter of gold. It promises to be exciting particularly with the present form of players from England, India and Singapore. But we will try our best,” the former African champion added.