Edem slams critics after table tennis exits

Nigerian table tennis player Offiong Edem says Nigerians should offer more support and not criticisms to athletes representing the country at the ongoing Paris Olympic Games, following the exits of Quadri Aruna and Omotayo Olajide in the men’s singles on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Nigeria had a bad start in the table tennis event on Saturday with the two representatives in the men’s singles, Aruna and Olajide, crashing out after just one game each.

While Olajide’s 4-1 defeat against Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan didn’t come as a surprise, Aruna’s ouster was shocking as the African champion threw away a three-set lead and lost 4-3 against Romania’s Eduard Ionescu.

After winning the first three sets (11-8, 11-9, 11-6), 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.

Perhaps in the wake of public opinions that trailed Aruna’s ouster, Edem jumped to the defence of her compatriots before her game against Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi on Sunday.

“It’s sad to note that many Nigerians fail to understand sports and how to develop them,” Edem wrote on Instagram.

“Instead of offering constructive support, they sit behind their keypads and type away, pouring out their frustrations on athletes who silently suffer yet strive to be their best. The Olympic Games are the biggest sporting event, and it’s a privilege to be here. All we need is support, not unnecessary criticism.

“Learn to understand that in sports, you win some and lose some. Stop criticising and support Team Nigeria, whether they win or lose. Period…..Peace.”

Nigeria’s last representative in the table tennis event, Fatima Bello, will be in action against France’s Jia Nan Yuan on Monday (today).

A defeat for Bello will mark an unceremonious end for the table tennis players, as Nigeria didn’t qualify for the team event and doubles.