From absenting himself from the just concluded ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open, Aruna Quadri has apologized to fans while promising to continue to work harder in order to make an impact at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
Quadri, who was seeded number one in the men’s singles of the ITTF Premier Lotto Nigeria Open could not make it to Lagos for the championship due to club engagement as his French club, Jura Morez was fighting to escape relegation from the elite European league.
“I am using this medium to appeal to all my fans and particularly the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) and its President, Wahid Oshodi for my inability to feature in this year’s Nigeria Open. My mind was with the tournament throughout but my club needed me as we were on the verge of going into relegation. We were four players in the team and one of my teammates was injured and for us to play in any league match we have to be a three-man team and this was what prevented me from coming to Lagos,” he said.
“I made several efforts to have the match postponed but being the final match on May 22, which coincided with the grand finale of the Nigeria Open, all teams in the league were expected to play at the same time and so it was a bit difficult for me to allow the team to go into relegation. This will affect me and the club will not be happy as well. But despite all, I want to promise my fans that I will continue to represent my country and make my nation proud. I have started my personal preparation for the Olympics and I hope I can repay their trust with good performance at the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil,” the 2014 ITTF Star Player added.
As Quadri was able to save Jura Morez from going into relegation, it was not the same for Egypt’s Omar Assar as the Egyptian could not save his team – Istres from dropping to the second division in the French League after losing 4-2 in the play-off match on Monday in Paris.
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