Audio By Carbonatix
Reigning African Games champion Olajide Omotayo has suffered elimination from the Table Tennis singles competition.
The Italian-based Nigerian suffered a shock 4-0 loss to Omar Assar.
Omar Assar, a 2011 African Games champion, took a commanding two-set lead after a series of unforced efforts from the reigning African champion.
"I made too many mistakes. This was a match I could have won. The first set was mine, I led the third set by 10 to 8, and I was 11 to 9 in the final set." Olajide told JoySports.
What followed next was a series of impressive shots to the baseline in the third set.
Olajide recovered, returning the baseline shots with some finesse.
However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly dismissed when the multiple Olympian broke Olajide with an impressive shot with the edge of his bat.
It was a masterful act that drew the applause of the crowd at the Dome of Accra International Conference Centre.
This was the seventh meeting between the pair, with Assar winning
Assar who won bronze at the African Games on Congo Brazzaville will now face Ibrahima Diaw of Senegal.
Dina Meshref has progressed to the final of the Women's Table Tennis singles at the Accra 2023 African Games.
Dina, Africa's number-one ranked tennis player, beat Nigeria's Offiong Edem in four straight sets in Tuesday's semi-final.
Despite facing the five-time African Games gold medallist, Dina showed no nerves and took firm control in an excellent first-set display.
The three-time Olympian consolidated her lead with successive baseline shots to take a 5-0 lead.
Edem appeared to be rocked by the baseline shots and never recovered.
Her jitters continued in the third set as she struggled to hold Dina's serve with the contest at 4-0 in favour of the Egyptian.
"It was a quality contest, and I respect Dina Meshref. I have no regrets because I have been at the highest level for twenty years. I've got the medals too," she told JoySports.
Dina Meshref will now face the reigning African Table Tennis champion, Goda Hana in an all-Egypt final.
Latest Stories
-
GOLDBOD CEO explains ‘Clear Typo’ in Foreign Reserves claim
3 hours -
Trump says US military struck ISIS terrorists in Nigeria
3 hours -
Civil society group calls on BoG to suspend planned normalisation of non-interest banking
6 hours -
Jingle bills: Arkansas Powerball player strikes $1.8bn jackpot on Christmas Eve
6 hours -
Brazil ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s surgery for hernia ‘successful’
6 hours -
Ghana and Afreximbank announce successful resolution of $750 million facility
9 hours -
IGP inaugurates Ghana Police Music AcademyÂ
9 hours -
Proposed 5-year presidential term will be difficult for underperforming presidents to seek more – Prof Prempeh
9 hours -
Constitution review was inclusive, structured and effective – Prof Prempeh
9 hours -
Public urged to remain vigilant to ensure fire incident-free Christmas Â
9 hours -
Why the fight against neglected tropical diseases is far from over
9 hours -
Reported losses from gold operations in 2025 remain speculative – BoG
10 hours -
Fighting AIDS and STIs in Africa: UNFPA equips youth to turn data into action
10 hours -
Amaarae returns to Accra for homecoming concert
10 hours -
5-year term will be harsher on presidents, not kinder, says Constitution Review Chair
10 hours
