Nigeria misses out on Commonwealth table tennis team gold after losing to India in the semi finals

NIGERIA'S men's table tennis team will have to settle for bronze at the ongoing Commonwealth Games taking place in Birmingham in the UK after they were beaten by India in the semi finals yesterday.

Showing a lot of promise in the qualifying rounds, Team Nigeria has been gunning for gold but yesterday they got stopped by the defending champions India. Despite a spirited effort, India beat Nigeria 3-0 as the trio of Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo and Bode Abiodun were no match to the India’s Sharath Achanta, Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan, who booked their place in the final.

Abiodun and Omotayo started with the doubles match but they were overpowered by the Indian duo of Desai and Gnanasekaran in three straight sets of 11-6, 11-7 and 11-7. Aruna tried his best against experienced Achanta but it was the older Indian that won 3-1, with 11-9, 7-11, 11-8 and 15-13 victories.

Omotayo wanted to restore Nigeria into the game but he was stopped by Gnanasekaran who beat him 11-9, 4-11, 11-6 and 11-8 to set up a final clash against Singapore later today. Hosts England had earlier lost  3-2  to Singapore in the other semi final and  will today slug it out against  Nigeria in the bronze medal match.

Singapore have already claimed their first gold medal of the tournament with victory over Malaysia in the Women’s team table tennis event. Tomorrow, the women's single's table tennis event begins with Chinenye Obiora, Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi and Faith Obazuaye all competing.

In the men's singles, Isau Ogunkunle, Nasiru Sule, Tajudeen Agunbiade and Alabi Olufemi will all be competing. Nigeria is currently sitting in ninth place in the medals table with two gold and two bronze medals.