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Toriola Targets 7th Olympics Appearance In Brazil

Nigeria’s most decorated Table Tennis star, Segun Toriola, has expressed optimism that he will make history by achieving a 7th appearance at next year’s Olympic … Continue reading Toriola Targets 7th Olympics Appearance In Brazil


Segun Toriola, Olympic Games, Table Tennis

Segun ToriolaNigeria’s most decorated Table Tennis star, Segun Toriola, has expressed optimism that he will make history by achieving a 7th appearance at next year’s Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Toriola has won 20 medals, 14 gold and On record, he remains the most successful table tennis player in Africa. Worthy of mention is ‎his remarkable achievement of winning the Men’s Singles title on four occasions.

Toriola’s record at the All Africa Games is unequalled as no table tennis player can match Toriola in the continental multi-sport competition.

In 1995 he won in Harare, four years later he retained the title in Johannesburg; in 2003 he succeeded in Abuja and in 2007 in Algeria.

He has distinguished record in the African Championships and African Cup; while possessing the distinction of being the first ever Men’s Singles winner when table tennis was held at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester 2002.

Since 1992 when table tennis became a medal event at the Barcelona Olympics, Toriola has featured in all, with his quarterfinal exit at the 2008 Beijing Olympics being the best outing for an African player at the Olympics.

Toriola, who is taking part in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Hopes Week holding in Shanghai, China, alongside Germany-based Funke Oshonaike, is looking forward to this month’s ITTF African Cup in Cameroon.

“If I am still playing well and I am able to qualify from the All Africa Games I don’t see any reason why I won’t be playing at the Rio Olympics. For now I want to be part of the ITTF African Cup in Cameroun because this will decide our seeding at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville,” he said.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Toriola made a sixth Olympics appearance, equalling the records of Angola’s João Baptista N’Tyamba and Mozambique’s Maria Mutola.