Over 142 players are expected to participate in the 2017 ITTF Challenge Series Nigeria Open from Wednesday to Sunday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.
At a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, organisers said the competition, which has a prize money of $42,000, would feature 92 male players and 50 female players.
According to the chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the competition, Enitan Oshodi, over 60 Nigerian players registered for the tournament.
Defending champion Benedik Olah of Finland will join other players from India, Scotland, Italy and Russia.
Players from African countries such as Egypt, Congo and Ghana are already in country for the competition.
Oshodi said, “This is the biggest edition since the competition started over four years ago. We have the highest prize money and also the highest entries in the ITTF Challenge Series.
“The standard of the competition has also increased and we believe that the competition will continue to grow because of the support we get every year is more encouraging.”
Meanwhile, Africa’s number one player, Quadri Aruna, has said his target is to win the competition for the first time.
Quadri was absent from the 2016 edition, which Olah won. Egypt’s Omar Assar is another past winner of the Nigeria Open.
“It is good to be back home after a while away,” the 2014 ITTF Star Player of the Year told our correspondent.
“It won’t be easy but we will give a good account of ourselves at home. I want to win the men’s singles title on home soil. With the support of the fans, I believe it is a dream that is achievable.”
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