Olajide Omotayo

Last updated

Olajide Omotayo
Olajide Omotayo African Olympics Qualification Tournament Tunisia 2020.jpg
Omotayo at the African Olympics Qualification Tournament Tunisia 2020
Personal information
Nickname(s)Jehdor
Born (1995-07-06) 6 July 1995 (age 28)
Lagos, Nigeria
Table tennis career Table tennis pictogram.svg
Playing style Offensive [1]
Highest ranking85 (December 2019) [2]
Current ranking92 (April 2020) [2]
Medal record
Men's table tennis
Representing Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
All-Africa Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Rabat Singles
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Rabat Team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2019 Rabat Doubles
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2018 Gold Coast Team

Olajide Omotayo Adeyemi (born 6 July 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian professional table tennis player based in Italy. [1] He is the youngest of 6 siblings. His peak world ranking to date was 85. He is currently ranked 144 in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Men Singles World Ranking. [2] He is the current Champion of Africa after defeating Quadri Aruna to win Gold in the Men's Singles at the 2019 African Games, his debut appearance. [3] Olajide is known for his offensive playing style with a strong topspin stroke. In 2017, Olajide secured a five-year sponsorship deal with the German manufacturer of kits, Gewo. [4]

Contents

He competed for Nigeria at the 2016 African Championship (doubles event) and the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia, winning Bronze and silver, respectively.

His first international appearance for Nigeria was in 2008 as a cadet at the 2008 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African Junior and Cadet Championships, which was held in Alexandria, Egypt. [5]

In 2019, he was nominated for the Nigerian Sportsman of the Year Award by the ITTF. [6]

Early years

Olajide attended Pedro Primary School, Famous, Bariga and later, Morocco Comprehensive High School, Igbobi Yaba, Lagos, for his Junior Secondary Education before proceeding to Baptist Senior High School, Obanikoro Palmgroove, for his Senior Secondary School Education.

Table tennis career

Olajide started playing Table Tennis at the age of 8. He was introduced to the game by his sister, Omobolanle Omotayo, a one-time national table tennis champion. He started his career playing for a local club, the Summer Table Tennis club, in his neighbourhood in Somolu Area, Lagos State. He represented his school in the Lagos State Table Tennis Competition for Primary Schools and the National School sports Competition at age 9. He started representing Nigeria at International Competitions at 11. In 2008, he represented Nigeria at the All African Junior Table Tennis Championships in Alexandria Egypt, where he won Bronze.

He has since then established himself as a key member of Nigeria's senior table Tennis Team at several International Tournaments.

He aspires to get to the Top 50 ranked players in the world. [7]

2015 African Games

Olajide failed to qualify for the 2015 African Games after losing a crucial game during the trials. He couldn't return to his club in Italy at the time and was on the verge of quitting Table Tennis completely. Quadri Aruna's record-breaking qualification for the Rio 2016's Olympic Games quarter-finals gave him hope to fight back. [8] [9]

2018 Commonwealth Games

Olajide was one of the five male Table Tennis players selected to represent Nigeria at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Nigerian team included Bode Abiodun, Azeez Jamiu, Quadri Aruna, and veteran player, Segun Toriola.

Nigeria won silver at the end of the competition after losing to the Indian Team consisting of Sharath Kamal, Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Harmeet Desai in the finals. [10]

2018 African Championship in Mauritius

Olajide featured in the 2018 African Championship in Mauritius, representing Nigeria. He made it to the semi-finals after beating Togo's Atarou Assou and Angola's Elizandro André. He had a stunning outing as he defeated Egypt's no.3 seed, Mohamed El-Beiali and Shady Magdy, to make it to the semi-final round. Olajide lost to compatriot Quadri Aruna. [11]

2019 ITTF World Team Cup

The Nigerian Team represented by Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo and Bode Abiodun played against Team China in Group A at the 2019 ITTF Team World Cup. Olajide lost 3–0 to world number 10, Yun-Ju Lin in the game.

In the doubles match, Quadri and Olajide played against Cheng-Ting Liao and Chen Chien-an and lost (2-1). The Nigerian team lost (3-1) overall to exit the 2019 ITTF Team World Cup, which was held in Tokyo, Japan. Chinese Taipei finished second in the Group while Nigeria exited, bagging the third spot. [12]

2019 African Games

At the 2019 African Games, which was held in Rabat Morocco, Olajide was up against three of the best players in Africa to become the continent's champion. He played against two former champions – Egypt's Ahmed Saleh and Nigeria's Segun Toriola in the quarterfinal and semifinal stages.

The final was a classic with one of his role models in the game and the then highest-ranked African table tennis player, Quadri Aruna. Omotayo raced to the lead with a 3-0 (13-11, 11–9, 16–14). The more experienced Quadri had a good comeback in the 4th and 5th games cutting the lead to 3–2 with 8–11, 13–15. Omotayo scaled through with a 12–10 win to claim his first international gold medal.

2020 Tokyo Olympics (2021)

Omotayo qualified for Men's Singles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Games were rescheduled to 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. He was defeated in four (4) straight sets by Tiago Apolónia in the First Round.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharath Kamal</span> Indian table tennis player (born 1982)

Achanta Sharath Kamal, known as Sharath Kamal, is an Indian professional table tennis player. He is the first Indian table tennis player ever to become ten times Senior National Champion hence breaking the record of eight-time National Champion Kamlesh Mehta. In 2019 he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award and in 2022, he was awarded the Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Segun Toriola</span> Retired Professional Nigeria table tennis player

Segun Moses Toriola is a retired Nigeria professional table tennis player.

Bose Kaffo is a Nigerian professional table tennis player who competed at five Olympics from 1992 to 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gustavo Tsuboi</span> Brazilian table tennis player

Gustavo Tsuboi is a table tennis player from Brazil, he won three medals in double and team events in the Pan American Games. Along with Hugo Hoyama and Thiago Monteiro, Tsuboi was part of the winning team at the 2007 Pan American Games and 2011 Pan American Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soumyajit Ghosh</span> Indian table tennis player

Soumyajit Ghosh is an Indian table tennis player from Siliguri, West Bengal. He was the youngest Indian player to qualify for the London, 2012 Olympics. He also became the youngest national champion at the age of 19, when he defeated Sharath Kamal in the 74th National Table Tennis Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quadri Aruna</span> Nigeria Professional Table Tennis Player

Quadri Akinade Aruna is a professional Nigerian table tennis player. He competed for Nigeria at the 2012 Summer Olympics, 2016 Summer Olympics, and 2020 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals in 2016.

Saheed Idowu is a Congolese table tennis player. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Men's singles, but was defeated in the preliminary round.

Omar Muhammadi Muhammad Muhammad Assar is an Egyptian table tennis player. He won silver in singles and gold in team play at the 2011 Arab Games in Doha. He also competed at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics in the Men's singles, but was defeated in the second round on both occasions.

Ahmed Saleh is an Egyptian table tennis player. He competed at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. At the 2008 Games he took part in the men's individual event, losing in the second round to Damien Éloi of France. At the 2012 Summer Olympics he competed in the men's team event.

Monday Merotohun is a Nigerian table tennis player. Playing with his partner Segun Toriola, Merotohun defeated Egypt's El-sayed Lashin and Ahmed Saleh for the gold medal in the men's doubles at the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria. As of September 2012, Merotohun is ranked no. 184 in the world by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). He is a member of AS TT Sport Club Etna Riposto in Catania, Sicily, Italy, and is coached and trained by Obisanya Babatunde. Merotohun is also right-handed, and uses the shakehand grip.

Kazeem Nosiru is a Nigerian table tennis player. He shared a bronze medal triumph with Egypt's El-sayed Lashin in the men's singles at the 2007 All-Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria. As of September 2012, Nosiru is ranked no. 269 in the world by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). He is a member of Lascala Sports Club in Barcelona, Spain, and is coached and trained by Obisanya Babatunde. Nosiru is also right-handed, and uses the attacking grip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigeria at the 2016 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Nigeria competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, from August 5 to 21, 2016. Since the nation made its debut in 1952, Nigerian athletes had appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, with the exception of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal because of the African boycott.

Derek Tawiah Abrefa is a Ghanaian born table tennis player. He started playing table tennis when he was in Presbyterian Senior High School, Osu as a student and junior national champion. Derek being a junior ping pong player represented Ghana at the Africa Junior Championship in Alexandria, Egypt and the All African Games in Algiers, Algeria in 2007.

The 2018 ITTF Men's World Cup was a table tennis competition held in Paris, France, from 19 to 21 October 2018. It was the 39th edition of the ITTF-sanctioned event, and the third time that it had been staged in Paris.

Alabi Olabiyi Olufemi, also known as Femi Alabi, is a Nigerian para table tennis player and Paralympian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigeria at the 2019 African Games</span> Sporting event delegation

Nigeria competed at the 2019 African Games held from 19 to 31 August 2019 in Rabat, Morocco. In total, 308 athletes represented Nigeria at the games. Athletes representing Nigeria won 46 gold medals, 33 silver medals and 48 bronze medals and the country finished 2nd in the medal table.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lin Yun-ju</span> Taiwanese table tennis player

Lin Yun-Ju is a Taiwanese table tennis player. He is a left-handed player who plays with the shakehand grip.

Faith Obazuaye is a Nigerian table tennis player. She competed for Nigeria at local and international table tennis competitions. Obazuaye participated in the female para table tennis competition at the 2018 Commonwealth Games representing Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigeria at the 2022 Commonwealth Games</span> Sporting event delegation

Nigeria competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England from 28 July to 8 August 2022. It was Nigeria's 15th appearance at the Commonwealth Games.

Esther Tosin Oribamise is a Nigerian table tennis and para tennis player.

References

  1. 1 2 "Player Profile". Table Tennis Guide. ITTF. 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "ITTF Ranking History". Table Tennis Guide. ITTF. 2020.
  3. ↑ Okusan, Olalekan (2019). "Remembering Rabat: The 2019 African Games". ITTF Africa Press.
  4. ↑ Okusan, Olalekan (2017). "Gewo Sponsorship Deal". ITTF Africa Press.
  5. ↑ "Olajide Omotayo Breaking through the Ranks". ThisDay Live. 2019.
  6. ↑ Okusan, Olalekan (2019). "Olajide Omotayo nominated for top award". ITTF Africa Press.
  7. ↑ Okusan, Olalekan (2019). "OLAJIDE OMOTAYO: MY targets in table tennis". The Nation Online.
  8. ↑ Watta, Evelyn (2020). "OLAJIDE OMOTAYO: "ONE BREAKTHROUGH CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE"". Olympic Channel. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "INTRODUCING AFRICA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL OLYMPIC TABLE TENNIS PLAYER OF ALL TIME: QUADRI ARUNA". Olympic Channel. 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  10. ↑ Fowowe, Solomon (2018). "Commonwealth Games: Team Nigeria falls in Table Tennis finals, bags silver". The Guardian.
  11. ↑ Okusan, Olalekan (2018). "Olajide Omotayo, now more motivated than ever". ITTF Africa Press.
  12. ↑ "Nigeria exits 2019 ITTF Team World Cup". TodayNG. 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.