Nigeria has qualified for the semi-finals of the men’s table tennis team event at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the United Kingdom.

After a sluggish start at NEC Hall 3 on Sunday, an inspired Nigerian side, led by Quadri Aruna, bounced back to defeat Malaysia 3-2, booking a semi-final spot against India on Monday.

In the doubles event, the duo of Javen Choong and Qi Shen beat Nigeria’s Bode Abiodun and Olajide Omotayo 3-1  (6-11, 12-10, 12-10,11-7).

The singles event saw Malaysia’s Chee Feng Leong lose1-3 to Quadri Aruna (9 -11, 11-6, 5 -11 and 5-11), while Abiodun lost 0-3 to Qi Shen Wong. (10-12, 12 -14, 5-11)

In the third singles game, Leong lost 1-3  (8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 6-11) to Omotayo, while the last game also saw Jave Choong succumb to Aruna 1-3 (11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 9-11).

Meanwhile, Edidiong Umoafia clinched a bronze medal for Nigeria in the men’s 67kg Weightlifting event earlier in the day.

Umoafia lifted a combined 290kg in the “Snatch’’ and “Clean and Jerk’’ categories to get on the podium.

In the boxing event, Nigeria’s Adeyinka Benson defeated his Ghanaian opponent Abubakari Kwesi Quartey 3-2 in Round 16 of the men’s over 71kg-75kg Middleweight category.

Benson has progressed to the quarterfinals. 

(NAN)