WTT Contender 2: Winners emerged at Qualifying Round 2 of Women’s Singles

Posted : 14 June 2023

As the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender hits Day 2, more players of Nigeria have been knocked out of the ongoing world ranking tournament at Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun, Surulere.

Nigerian Kehinde Oyeniyi, Kehinde Oyeniyi and Adeola Oloruntade all lost out.

Kehinde Oyeniyi of Nigeria lost out in the first match of the day against Izabela Lupulesku from Serbia in straight set (3-0) in the Qualifying Round 2 of Women’s Singles.

Lupulesku on the sidelines of the match said that the WTT was exciting to him.

"This is my first time playing in this kind of competition and I’m very excited.

"When I was playing, I noticed some of my mistakes that I need to correct and this means I will need to put more work on that as this is an exposure for me," she said.

For Yang Ha Eun of Korea Republic, her experience in Africa is a pleasurable one as she hoped to continue giving her best.

Ha Eun produced a sparkling performance to outplay Yang Yiyun of China 3-1 in the Qualifying Round 2 of the Women’s Singles.

Ha Eun said: "This is my first time in Lagos, Nigeria and also my first time in Africa, so this is a good experience and I hope I have a good game.

"I also think Nigeria is a country that is good at their sports. I'm so happy to win this first round, and I want to win more games," she said.

In the third match of the day, another Serbian, Izabella Lupuleskux, beat Nigerian Kehinde Oyeniyi in another straight set 3-0 in the Qualifying Round 2 of the Women’s Singles

Lupulesku who is also visiting Nigeria for the first time expressed delight with the warm reception she got in Nigeria.

"I was recently in Durban, South Africa for the World Championships, while I had also visited Cape Town as well. Before the match, I was a bit stressed because the first match is always very difficult; playing against a Nigerian player as the fans were supporting her.

"I was a bit under pressure but as the match progressed, I felt better to win the match. I love playing in this kind of atmosphere and I look forward to my next match," she said.

Jules Rolland of France also had another upper hand over Adeola Oloruntade from Nigeria 3-0 in the Qualifying Round 2 of Men’s Singles.

Rolland says: "Playing is very different because people are always supporting players from Nigeria and they are like 100 percent behind them.

"So when I played my first match against a Nigerian player, it was very difficult because I was not playing only against my opponent but against all the people in the hall.

"So it was very difficult. But I managed to play well in this match, so I'm happy. In the next match I will probably play against my compatriot and my friend and I know it will be a difficult match.

"My goal in Nigeria was to play in the main draw and I will give everything tomorrow hoping that I will play well," he said.

Anders Lind of Denmark had to play to the last gap to beat Seongil Jang of Korea Republic 3-2 in the Qualifying Round 2 of Men’s Singles.

In the struggle through the match, Lind said that going down 2-0 was a tough one, having to trail in the match.

"To be down 2-0 and to recover and win a match is always very good. It showed mental strength even though this is not one of my proudest performances this year.

"I am still very proud that I came back and won this match.

"Being my first time in Lagos, my experience overall is okay and the people are very polite and friendly," he said.

In another Qualifying Round 2 of Men’s Singles, Harmeet Desai of India beat Joe Seyfried of France 3-0.

Desai on his part, said he enjoyed the match against his opponent.

"It was quite a good match because I am playing for the first time in Lagos and my first match was a tough opponent from France.

"Joe and I played a couple of months back in the French League and so we know each other.

"I just tried to be aggressive from the start and the conditions are quite good.

"Also there are so many people cheering and supporting the local players here because normally, we don’t have many people coming to watch the qualification stage but it is quite nice here seeing so many people coming.

"It was a nice experience in my first match and I hope I can continue to do well," he said.

Jeet Chandra of India at the last match of the day beat Samuel Walker (ENG) 3-2 in the Qualifying Round 2 of Men’s Singles.

Chandra said: "I am very focused in this competition because in my first match, I won by 3-2, and this again.

"I won by the same margin. It was not an easy match against such a big and experienced player like Walker.

"I am still focused because I want to win my last match to be able to play in the main draw," he said.

WTT Contender 2: Winners emerged at Qualifying Round 2 of Women’s Singles

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