ITTF World Championship: Africa’s only hope bows out

This is not the best of times for African teams at the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Championships in Suzhou, China, as the only hope of the continent Egypt’s Omar Assar was bundled out by the aggressive Korean, LEE Sangsu in the round of 32 of the men’s singles.

With the early exits of Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and Segun Toriola as well as Egypt’s El-Sayed Lashin and Mohammed El-Beiali on Tuesday, Assar fought well in the round of 64 to keep Africa’s hope alive.

All the African teams were united in their support to the Lagos Open champion during the epic encounter on table two of the Suzhou International Expo Centre while the President of African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Khaled El-Salhy led the North African supporters while ATTF Vice President, Olabanji Oladapo supported by NTTF President, Wahid Oshodi spearheaded the fans from the East and West African.

There was apprehension during the encounter when the Korean won the first two games but like the fighter he is known for, Assar fought well in the third game to put the match at 2-1. But the things changed for the Egyptian as the Korean knew how to cage the African. Unfortunately for Assar the deed had already been done as the Korean was all out to put the match beyond Assar to end the encounter at 4-1.

When the match was at 3-1, the leader of the North African supporters and ATTF boss has walked out of the venue after having the premonition that the die has already been cast. But other compatriots from the continent were glued to their seat waiting to see what will happen and they witnessed the massive beating of the young Egyptian for the dream of the continent to be punctured by the rampaging Asian.