Nigeria's table tennis star in need of quality coach

LAGOS, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's table tennis star, Aruna Quadri, has pleaded with the country to hire a knowledgeable coach for him, ahead of the 2017 World Cup in Belgium.

In a statement made available to Xinhua in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub on Monday, Quadri said he had no quality coach to manage him at international competitions.

This is despite putting Nigeria on the world map on several occasions, Africa's highest ranked table tennis player, the African champion added.

"I am actually getting used to playing without a coach because I have no sponsor. Since I have no sponsor, I just have to play alone," he added.

"I can say that a coach is very, very important but since I have no support, I just have to keep on playing alone," he said.

"Actually, if I am not ready to play in the Bulgaria Open, I wouldn't come along. But I am here because I am ready to play without a coach. If I had a coach, it would be even better of course," he said.

Quadri, however, attributed his victory against Japan's Yuto Kizukuri in the round of 16 of Bulgaria Open as sheer luck.

He pleaded with his fans over his disappointing outing at Nigeria Open, describing it as normal in sports.

Nigeria's Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, had promised to support Quadri for the World Cup.

The 2017 World Cup is slated to hold in Liege, Belgium later this year. Enditem