Team Nigeria at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Paralympics had a bad start as all the five para-table tennis players lost their opening games on Wednesday.
Ahmed Koleosho who was first in action lost 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-8) to Germany’s Thomas Bruechle in the men’s singles Class D, Group D.
Tajudeen Agunbiade also lost by the same margin (11-5, 11-7, 11-6) in 20 minutes to Ukraine’s Ivan Mai.
Nigeria’s third game saw Victor Farinloye going 2-1 up against Ukraine’s Viktor Didukh before losing the next two sets, ending the game with a 3-2 (11-6, 7-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-3) loss.
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Alabi Olufemi was a 15-minute casualty, falling to the superpower of China’s Hao Lian 3-0 (11-6, 11-4, 11-9).
Like the other four, Faith Obazuaye also lost 3-0 in the women’s singles. She was defeated by Chinese Tapei’s Shiau Tien 3-0 (11-9, 11-3, 11-5) in just 13 minutes.
Agunbiade will also play Chinese opponent Yi Zhao (9:40am and Koleosho and Farinloye playing Ukraine’s Vasyl Petruniv and Britain’s Bily Shilton respectively at 10:20am and 11:00am.
Suwaibidu Galadima will also be in action at 4:11am on Friday in the men’s 100m – T47 athletics event.