More by this Author
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Top 16 Cup runner-up Aruna Quadri of Nigeria was too good for Kenya's Josiah Wandera whom he beat 4-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11- 6, 11-9) in Group 1 match of the Africa Singles and Mixed Doubles Olympic Qualification event in Tunis, Tunisia.
Wandera, who is Kenya's second-ranked table tennis player, was scheduled to play Bienatiki Christ of Congo in the modified 'snake system' games.
"I started off on a low note in the first two sets but made amends in the last two where I won some points against the Nigerian,” said Wandera.
He added: “I felt much better as the match progressed and developed confidence to attack. My aim is now to defeat the Congolese. I saw him play at the All Africa Games in 2015 in Congo and last year in Rabat. He is such an experienced player but I will fight to the end.”
Kenya’s top-ranked player Brian Mutua lost 4-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7) to Congolese Saheed Idowu in the men's singles in a Group 4 clash.
"I made some errors when I got the chance to attack. I knew he is an experienced player but that didn't intimidate me, so I decided to attack from the word go. Second set I was leading 9-4 and then 10-5 but he managed to catch up and this distracted me," Mutua said after the game on Thursday.
In women's Group 2, Haj Salah of Tunisia Abir beat Doreen Juma of Kenya 4-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7).
In the women's singles Group 1 clash Jalim Nandeshwaree of Mauritius beat Lydia Setey of Kenya 4-0 (11-7, 11-6, 11-9, 11-4).
Action resumes at the Olympique Stade De Rades Tunis on Friday. The mixed doubles will be played on Saturday.
