Paris Olympics: Aruna, Omotayo crash out in table tennis on day one

The Nigerian duo of Quadri Aruna and Olajide Omotayo have crashed out of the table tennis event of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The duo were defeated by their respective opponents in the round of 64 of the men’s singles event on Saturday at the South Paris Arena.

Omotayo lost 4-1 to Noshad Alamiyan of Iran earlier in the day.

Although the 29-year-old Nigerian comfortably won the first set 11-5, he could not replicate the valiant effort in subsequent sets, losing three on the trot 11-4, 12-10, and 11-8.

If Omotayo’s loss was straightforward, Aruna’s defeat was dramatic. The 35-year-old surrendered a three-set lead to lose 4-3 to Romania’s Eduard Ionescu.

The veteran of four Olympics took the first three sets with flair and ease before dropping four straight sets to lose 4-3 (11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 9-11, 11-13).

Aruna was expected to close out the encounter in the fourth set, but a combination of his complacency and Ionescu’s resilience led to a brilliant comeback by the 19-year-old Romanian, who advanced to the round of 32 stage.

The loss was Aruna’s second consecutive loss in his first game at the Olympics. He was also beaten by Tsuboi Gustavo of Brazil in his first game of the Tokyo Olympics.

The duo’s elimination ends Nigeria’s presence in the men’s singles. The country turns to Offiong Edem and Fatimo Bello for a better outing in the table tennis women’s singles.