BY Victor Akhidenor
Edem Offiong is hoping for a better outing when the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour, Lagos Open serves off on March 10.
Offiong lost in the final in 2013 against compatriot Cecilia Otu-Akpan. The following year, she couldn’t go past the quarterfinal as she met her match in Dina Meshref of Egypt.
Also, the disappointment at the ITTF Africa Senior Championship in Cairo in 2014 still rankles but Offiong promises that the title will remain in Nigeria this time around.
“I am well prepared for this tournament because I have it in mind that I must do better this year,” she said.
“After the disappointing outing in Cairo, I returned to Nigeria and I rested for a week and since then I have been training hard in order to ensure that I make it to the podium this year. I am in good shape and I hope the home support will help me this year especially against the Egyptians and Portuguese Chinese-born player.
“I know a lot of people have been talking about the quality of the Egyptian player but I want to let them know that the Chinese-born Portuguese is indeed a serious threat because she is the number one female player in the Portuguese league and she is a very strong player.”
Offiong, who made it to round-of-16 at the 2014 Spanish Open in Almeria, said she hopes to use the Lagos Open title to prepare herself for the this year’s German and Spanish Opens.
“I admit that it is not going to be easy like I expect because for anybody to clinch the title this year, such player must be at her best,” she said.
“Any player that is coming to Nigeria must understand that the atmosphere is always different from anywhere in the world because the fans are always there to cheer the host players and visitors must be ready to face this as well. I am sure this will work in my favour.”
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