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Segun Toriola eyes the ball against Belgium's Jean-Michel Saive during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

Toriola drops in world table tennis ranking

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Nigeria's top table tennis player, Segun Toriola has dropped to the 66th position in the latest ranking released Tuesday by the International Table Tennis Federation, ITTF.

The veteran ping-ponger who was eliminated in the round of 128 at the 2009 World Table Tennis Championship in Yokohama, Japan in May fell two places after he was ranked 64th last month by the global body.

He polled 11703 points in June but has now slumped to 11679.00 points in the latest rating.
Chinese star, Wang Hao maintains the number one position he has held since October last year, with the same 12874.50 he polled last month.

Toriola's highest ranking by the ITTF since 2001 came between December 2008 and February 2009 when he was ranked 56 with 11746.50 points.

He reigned as Africa's number one player for a decade, precisely from 1998 to June 2008 when he was dethroned by Egyptian Eli Saleh Ahmed, yet he is still Nigeria's top player.

The 34-year-old who has represented the country at five Olympic Games has won many laurels including four All Africa Games gold medals in singles and doubles events as well as two African Championships singles titles.

Toriola made his debut at the Olympics at the Barcelona edition in 1992 and his best record came last year in Beijing when he reached the quarter finals after defeating former world number one, Belgian Jean-Michel Saive.

He narrowly lost 4-3 in the last eight of the singles event of the summer games to South Korean star, Oh Sang-Eun.

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Reader Comments (4)


Posted by kayode olaitan on Jul 08 2009

segun u've made us that know u closely very proud. keep it up brother.

Posted by Abiodun Tayo on Jul 08 2009

The drop in ranking for Segun Toriola is a sign of the times.It has to do with the state of our sporting facilities and the development programs of catching them young that is missing.There is no way rankings can improve without having competitions and sponsorships.More corporate bodies should emulate Okoya Thomas who has been flying the table tennis flag for ages.There is always room for improvement in table tennis.

Posted by Kevin Mafabi on Jul 13 2009

Segun has deffinately made Africa proud.Being African and competing quite favourable in a sport thats as unique as TT is not easy,its a clear sign that Africans aare well capable of doing anything,we just need to the facilities in Asia and Europe and the world will see an African world Champion.Big up Segun.

Posted by wole ayangade on Aug 26 2009

toriola is very imperssive overall but,segun needs to start playing more protour events, thats the only way to become a top 20player.



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