Omotayo, Mati, Others Target Victories as WTT Contender Lagos Enters Main Draw Today 

Femi Solaja   

With boys separated from men, the WTT Contender Lagos enters the main draw from this morning with only four Nigerian players set to do battle against some of the best players in the world.  

While number player on the continent, Aruna Quadri, is missing in action due to club engagement, only four Nigerian star players, Olajide Omotayo, Taiwo Mati both male, Esther Oribamise and Fatimo Bello are the last men standing against top players in the round of 32 from this morning at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. 

Fatimo Mati will be the first to taste the heat from 11;10 am this morning when she comes against Korean Lee Eunhye in the second match of the day. 

While the left-handed Bello is ranked 53 in the world, her right-handed opponent is 93 in the ranking range meaning with self-determination and composure, the 25-year-old Nigerian may cross the hurdle. 

And while the match is on-going, Taiwo Mati also has a date with history as he attempts to reach the last 16 in major tournament. The 18-year-old Nigerian ranked 75th in the world will come against 17th ranked German right-hand attacker, Patrick Franziska in the third match in the men’s category. 

The duo of Oribamise and Omotayo will make their attempt to reach the next stage later in the day with Manar Vikash Thakkar standing in the way of 28-year-old Olajide and Oribamise ranked 125 in the world will square up against Korean Kim Nayeong. 

The tournament started on Monday with, 48 players in the preliminary round of matches and only eight gained entries into the main section and joined therest based on their respective ranking. 

Host country Nigeria had the largest number of players in the preliminary as they are hoping to join the likes of Taiwo Mati, Olajide Omotayo, Fatimo Bello and Edem Offiong in the main draw following the absence of their talisman Quadri Aruna due to club engagement.   

Also, the LOC Chairman, Wahid Oshodi, believes there would be a lot of surprises in the preliminary as well as the main draw.   

“On the fans’ side, expect a fantastic tournament, great things to look forward to as some of the best players in the world, with different styles include some of the exciting players in the world will compete from the preliminary round,” Oshodi said.