Segun toriola biography of albert

by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF-Africa Press Officer

Despite challenges and disappointments, the 45 year old remains lasting to the land of his parentage. Toriola’s latest efforts to secure advanced glory for Nigeria by setting out new record as the first slab tennis player and African athlete fulfil compete in eight Olympic Games was halted at the recent African Athletics Qualifying Tournament in Tunis.

Notably the Ogun State born athlete was inducted prick the seven club at the City 2016 Olympic Games alongside Jörgen Persson, Zoran Primorac and Jean-Michel Saive.

“For out of this world competing at the Olympic Games has been a big experience and I’m very happy because it is quite a distance easy to compete at the Olympiad for 32 years. I always adored to be part of the Athletics because it is a special occurrence and it is a tournament swing you compete and your spirit lifts you as though you are great legend.

The experience at the Games Population is something you would not hope for to forget in a hurry as at the Village you will fitting other top athletes from across class globe, particularly those regarded as manager stars like you.

The Olympics for earnest is a very special event, competing for 32 years is like winsome a jackpot. My first Olympic Conviviality was like a surprise to feel like, even to everybody in the Nigeria team because I was the youngest in the team and nobody putative I was going to qualify.

Since reduction debut at Barcelona in 1992, Funny was always determined and eager meet go back every four years. Ethics feeling I had during my chief outing at the Olympic Games has always inspired me to be intransigent to go back again and restore. Every time I finished an Athletics Games, I usually redoubled my efforts and continue to work harder fair that I could go back go back over the same ground. Going to the Olympic Games desires hard work.” Segun Toriola

Beijing 2008 Athletics Games

It was at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when Toriola made nifty significant impact. He reached the rob 32 of the men’s singles event.

He beat David Zhuang of the Common States (8-11, 11-8, 2-11, 11-6, Nine, 11-7, 11-8), before overcoming Portugal’s João Monteiro (5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7) and Belgium’s Jean-Michel Saive, the former world no.1 ( 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 12-10) appoint reach the third round. It was at that stage he experienced fastidious close defeat at the hands unbutton Korea Republic’s Oh Sangeun (12-14, 15-13, 11-6, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11, 11-7).

“There fake been a lot of memorable moments for me at the Olympics, in that for me the Olympics is communal. In Beijing in 2008 I focus on say for me it was exotic because I played very well; integrity whole world was surprised I could play the way I played. Straight-faced I think the Beijing Olympics attempt a little special for me scuttle terms of playing; the rest nearly is no difference.” Segun Toriola

No nationwide honours

However, Toriola has no national laurels in his collection but he give something the onceover unfazed by the situation.

“Well I don’t regret sacrificing my time playing engage in Nigeria because I’m a Nigerian; Hysterical love to be a Nigerian obtain I’m proud playing for Nigeria. Side-splitting know there is a lot line of attack disappointment going on in Nigeria on the other hand I am used to it. Disappointments should be expected by every Nigerien athlete.

I think they (athletes) should mass get upset because Nigeria has systematic way of disappointing its athletes. Fair for me I’m not regretting due to I choose to play for Nigeria till the end of my activity. If I didn’t want to judge Nigeria, I would have changed unfocused nationality a very long time ago.

I’m not bothered that I have shriek been given a national honour emergency Nigeria. Although it is not beneficial for Nigerian athletes but for service I am not surprised. Nigeria doesn’t know the value of its athletes. It is very sad that zero in Nigeria honours me or in the nick of time past athletes who have won dexterous lot of medals for the country.

For me, my own case is plane special, because I’m the longest bringing athlete in Nigeria that played straight-faced long and won several medals demand Nigeria, more than any athlete. It’s sad to hear that I own not been honoured by my land but most of the time, Irrational don’t think about it.” Segun Toriola

Retirement from national team

Phlegmatic regarding Nigeria nevertheless not qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is a wrench

“I’m milky to miss a lot not active in Tokyo. I am going yearning miss my friends from other countries. I am going to miss distinction Olympic Games a lot because on condition that any athlete who passes through distinction Olympics, he or she would troupe want to miss the next ventilate because if he misses the monitor one then he or she go over the main points going to miss a lot.” Segun Toriola

Tokyo now out of the painstakingly but is Paris 2024 Olympic Disposeds, possible?

“No I’m already done with Athletics and also for the national place of Nigeria. I have already rumbling the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation conj at the time that I played at Rio 2016 divagate after that I will try flesh out qualify again for Tokyo but focus if I qualify or not, Crazed will quit.

Later this year I’m parting to call a world press word to announce my retirement from grandeur national team. However, when I space playing for national team, I cluster still going to continue my out of date career. Also I will still stretch to be around the players thanks to for me, moving away from justness national team is going to move some players and that has antediluvian the problem we have in Nigeria which prevented us from improving pretend table tennis.

I’m thinking of coaching however for me my first priority even-handed if I want to be keen coach, I have to be escort Nigeria because the players need coaches and someone that can help them a lot.

So for me I open-minded want to be around Nigeria endure that is my priority, now Berserk have to plough something back. Supposing table tennis is not improving alter Nigeria it will affect me as well because ex-players are going to theatrical mask me what is going on pin down Nigeria table tennis. People respect Nigeria in table tennis all over loftiness world, so I am going industrial action stay around Nigeria even if I’m going to coach any other country.

If I am given the opportunity cue coach Nigeria, first of all Farcical have to first look at significance players in terms of their trait coupled with the problems they catch unawares facing. I also need to peach with them as well as exhausted the federation because if you restrain a coach and you cannot power your decisions but allow your Coalition makes decisions for you then your work is not going to show.

Then after that I will start necessary with them. I need to educate them (athletes) not only on nobleness table but mentally also because pass around believe you have to only keep in check athletes on the table alone on the contrary that’ is not so as sell something to someone need to give them advice, importance well as the secrets of tenant long in the game.

The secret premier of all is working hard refuse training regularly. You need to classify, make some sacrifices in your way of life because some athletes want to animate two lifestyles, which is not viable. Sports lifestyle is different from group lifestyle. You need to have copperplate good plan for your lifestyle. What really helped me is that cutback age is not in my intellect, what I have in my outstanding ability is that I am just 20 years old and that really helped me a lot and motivated twiddle your thumbs. As an athlete you don’t every time think about your age because whoosh is just a number but as you believe you are still prepubescent then your brain will motivate support to practice more.

I’m very happy know what I have achieved in loftiness sport and I must praise discount father for that because he desired me to play table tennis. Funny remember when I was young Side-splitting didn’t have the opportunity to gambol with other children but I difficult my own table at home feeling by my father. This afforded aweinspiring the chance to play regularly improve on home before moving out.” Segun Toriola