AFTER a rigorous trials held at the Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has picked 20 players that will represent the country at next month's London 2012 Paralympics qualifiers in Egypt.According to the national coach, Nosiru Bello, the players would compete in various classes and they are made up of 12 male and eight female including 2010 Commonwealth gold medalist, Kate Oputa-Nwaka.'20 players were selected to represent Nigeria at the coming London 2012 Paralympics qualifying series coming up on November 6 to 11 in Ismailia, Egypt. After the trials, the 20 stood out from both male and female players and they will be competing with their counterparts based on their classes. Also we are going to the qualification series with the classes we are assure of. We don't want to go and gamble with the classes that we are not sure of their proper classes,' he said.Bello added that for now they are planning to commence training for the qualifiers as efforts are being made to get fund from the National Sports Commission (NSC) for the team to be in top shape for the qualifiers.'We are confident that we will do well at the qualifiers because we believe we have the materials to conquer the continent in Egypt. But all this depends on our preparation, which I believe holds the key to our success. The players we had selected are capable of doing the nation proud and we look forward to a good outing in Ismailia next month,' Bello said.Prior to the trials, Oputa had told The Guardian that she was sure that she would make the team and this became a reality for the Delta State-born athlete who came to stardom after her scintillating outing at the last Commonwealth Games in India.Aside Oputa, other selected players are Team Nigeria captain to the last Commonwealth Games, Faith Obiora.Others are Atlanta 96 medalist, Sule Nasiru, Oluade Egbinola, Olufemi Alabi, Tunde Adisa, Njoku Chinedu, Yusuf Wasiu, Victor Farinloye, Tajudeen Agunbiade, Blessing Agu, Omoruyi Obaretin, Biola Adesope, Issau Ogunkunle, Philomena Konwea, Habeeb Maimunat, faith Obazuaye, Kehinde Lawal, Foluke Oluyemi and Kudirat Immamfulani.
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