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
-
Free speech: MFWA slams ‘weaponisation’ of state laws
16 minutes -
NITA defends ICT fees, rejects claims of ‘digital coup’
59 minutes -
UN releases $60m from central fund to tackle lethal Ebola outbreak
1 hour -
“Put people first” – Vice-President tells global financial giants at ACI Congress
3 hours -
Vice-President commissions 100 new Metro Mass buses
4 hours -
“You do not need my permission” – Bagbin clears misconception over arresting MPs
4 hours -
Ice baths, almond milk, meditation and a ‘house like a hospital’: The secrets of Salah’s success
4 hours -
This Saturday on Prime Insight: GN Savings and Loans licence restoration and the Abronye bail debate
5 hours -
Putin vows retaliation after accusing Ukraine of hitting student dormitory
6 hours -
2026 ACI World Congress: In Accra, a quiet reframe of how emerging markets see themselves
6 hours -
No break-in, no theft at Ashaiman showroom – Hisense Ghana clarifies
6 hours -
This Saturday on Newsfile: Attack on free speech and return of GN Bank
6 hours -
Opinion: The evidence before High Court continues to expose weakness of the Republic’s case against Wontumi
6 hours -
Ebola risk raised to ‘very high’ in DR Congo
7 hours -
I recommended Haruna and Muntaka for ministerial roles — Asiedu Nketia
7 hours