As the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games gets underway on Thursday in Birmingham, the UK, eight players, will be representing Nigeria in table tennis

Nasiru Bello, the National Coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone that the eight players, which four males and four females, were in high spirits and in top forms.

Bello said that the athletes had intensified training since their arrival in the UK on Monday, adding that they were working relentlessly toward delivering medals to the country. after the tournament.

“The preliminary draws were concluded yesterday, and today is a free day for us to train more.

“Preparations for this game had been in top gear, and the players are in high spirit.

“In the game of table tennis, you cannot predict what can happen in the next minute.

“ I assure you, and I pray that the athletes will. emerge winners in all of their categories”, he said.

Bello also listed the four male players as; Haruna Quadri, Bode Abiodun, Omotayo Olajide and Amadi Omeh.

The females are; Edem Offiong, Fatimo Bello, Tosin Oribamise and Ajoke Ojomo.

Also speaking, Fatimo Bello, Nigeria’s top-ranked in women's table tennis, said that she was optimistic about her chances of winning the games.

She added that there are other good players, but with determination and hard work, she would emerge with medals.

Bello, who is ranked number 52 in the world and number four in Africa, added that she believed that their chances of winning medals were bright.

“We are in good shape at the moment, and I believe we will do well in Birmingham.

“ Individually, I have been training on my own, and I’m confident about our chances.

“We have good players at the moment, and I believe we will win medals here, which is our target”, she said.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games will hold from July 28 to Aug. 8 in Birmingham.