NTTF League: Junior players relive experience

Junior table tennis players at the National club’s team league have expressed optimism that their participation would further build their confidence and exposure in the sport.

Some of them have suffered defeats in the hands of their more established opponents but see the positives in the defeats, saying it would serve as motivation and exposure in future competitions.

For Abayomi Animashaun who has played four matches so far in the competition and lost all, he is simply relishing the experience.

“I am using it to gather more experience and learn new skills from the older players; the margin with which I lost to them is not wide; it’s just few points,” the 11-year-old student of Shepherd Nursery and Primary School, Ado- Ekiti told NAN.

Another junior player, 12-year-old Ibrahim Umar, of Local Government Area Primary School, Lokoja, shares the same optimism.

“They have more skills and experience than me, and that is the advantage they have over me. I am studying them and I will use what I gain to improve on my subsequent matches,” he said.

Jamiu Ayanwale, 14-year-old student of St Paul Primary School, Idi-oro, Lagos, expressed satisfaction with his performance despite losing to older players.

“If it was my age category I played with, I would have won,” he said.

“I didn’t know the competition will involve the senior players; I thought it was for the junior players. But all the same, my participation in the tournament has helped me to be ready to face more experienced players.”

A female player, Kehinde Oyeniyi, who is a student of Okesuna Junior Secondary School, Lagos said that the league is her first major competition.

“I have learnt to be focused and have no fear when on the table,” she said.

“I have been playing against older players and losing to them, but I am well-motivated to do well in future competitions. I have always loved the sport, but decided to enter for major competition now.”

Twenty-three clubs are participating in the tournament, which commenced on October 8 and ends on October 18.