IT was surprising to see the effigy of Nigerian Aruna Quadri displayed by major equipment supplier, Joola, at the ongoing championship in Dortmund.
Quadri’s effigy dotted most of Joola’s stands in Dortmund, with many visitors taking pictures with it. Even some Nigerian officials in Dortmund could not but take pictures with it.
An excited President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Kayode Abdulwahab-Omotose, was quick to inform The Guardian about this great development, saying: “I was proud to see Quadri’s effigy and this goes to show that the European recognised the potential in our players.”
Quadri’s endorsement by Joola was made possible with the singular effort of the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Wahid Oshodi, who engineered the deal in 2009.
Oshodi, who was then a keen supporter of table tennis, ensured that the deal became reality and this year again, Quadri was offered another improved two-year deal to attend some Pro Tour Circuits as well as getting more equipment.
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Quadri’s effigy on display in Dortmund