Nigeria's Segun Toriola has been honoured by the International Table Tennis Federation after becoming the 4th table tennis player to equal the seven Olympics appearance record set by Zoran Primorac (Croatia), Jörgen Persson (Sweden) and Jean-Michel Saive (Belgium).
Though, the 41-year old Africa's most decorated table tennis player lost out of this year's games in the round of 16 in the 2016 events, he has been however officially inducted into the 7’ Club at the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, the ITTF President, Thomas Wiekert, has described the Nigerian as a global brand that deserved honour by the world table tennis ruling body.
Wiekert also added that he believes the feat achieved by the Nigerian should be an inspiration to athletes across the world particularly in Africa.
Toriola, was joined by other three players who have achieved this feat at the Riocentro Pavilion 3 in Rio, as well as ITTF helmsman.
The presentation was made before the first round match in the men’s team event between Nigeria and China and the ITTF President said:
"On behalf of the ITTF I would like to congratulate Segun Toriola on his 7th Olympic appearance. This is a fantastic achievement and one that needs to be celebrated. We have enjoyed watching you play and we look forward to watching your more."
"We have played many times and had many experiences together. Welcome to the ‘7 Club’ and we are honoured to share this record with you, as you are a fantastic ambassador for the sport and a great guy." Belgium’s Jean-Michel Saive said after the presentation of awards to Toriola.
Croatia’s Zoran Primorac also added that Toriola should must be proud of his achievement, saying participating in seven Olympics is no easy thing to achieve.
"Congratulations on your 7th Olympic Games. This is no easy feat, and you should be very proud of your achievement. Welcome to the club!" Primorac said.
Meanwhile, Toriola, has has said it was an honour to be reocgnised by the ITTF, adding that it was a privilege to be inducted into the '7 Club.
"It is a privilege to be next to you both and receive such recognition. I am proud to be in the 7 club with such champions and I hope I can inspire more kids to start playing table tennis around the world. Thank you ITTF for this trophy and everyone for your kind words." an elated Toriola said after the award
Segun Toriola began his Olympics journey in Barcelona '92 Games but did not go beyong the group stage, until 2004 Games in Athens he overcame Argentina’s Pablo Tabachnik to reach round two of the Men’s Singles competition for the first time.
At the Beijing 2008 Games, Toriola's confidence had grown as he achieve his personal best finish at an Olympic Games, reaching the third round of the singles and beating Joao Monteiro (Portugal) and Jean-Michel Saive in the process.
2008 was also the first Olympic Games to introduce the Team Event but while Toriola’s Nigeria won 3-2 against Russia and a swift exit followed.
After winning his preliminary round match against Canada’s Andre Ho, Toriola was drawn to play Sweden’s Jörgen Persson in round one of London 2012 but, unfortunately for the Nigerian player, that was as far as he would go as Persson won in five ends.
At Rio 2016, where he competed in his seventh Games, Segun Toriola knew that he carried some media interest heading into the Men’s Singles tournament and he caused a round one upset by defeating Dimitrij Prokopcov (Czech Republic) 4-2, a player placed 41 spots higher on the ITTF world rankings list (79th). Toriola then gave Japan’s Koki Niwa an exit scare in round two, but it wasn’t to be for Toriola as the Japanese contestant won in six games.
Toriola’s 41 shot rally against Singapore’s Gao Ning became the major highlight at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Though, the 41-year old Africa's most decorated table tennis player lost out of this year's games in the round of 16 in the 2016 events, he has been however officially inducted into the 7’ Club at the Olympic Games.
Wiekert also added that he believes the feat achieved by the Nigerian should be an inspiration to athletes across the world particularly in Africa.
Toriola, was joined by other three players who have achieved this feat at the Riocentro Pavilion 3 in Rio, as well as ITTF helmsman.
The presentation was made before the first round match in the men’s team event between Nigeria and China and the ITTF President said:
"On behalf of the ITTF I would like to congratulate Segun Toriola on his 7th Olympic appearance. This is a fantastic achievement and one that needs to be celebrated. We have enjoyed watching you play and we look forward to watching your more."
"We have played many times and had many experiences together. Welcome to the ‘7 Club’ and we are honoured to share this record with you, as you are a fantastic ambassador for the sport and a great guy." Belgium’s Jean-Michel Saive said after the presentation of awards to Toriola.
Croatia’s Zoran Primorac also added that Toriola should must be proud of his achievement, saying participating in seven Olympics is no easy thing to achieve.
"Congratulations on your 7th Olympic Games. This is no easy feat, and you should be very proud of your achievement. Welcome to the club!" Primorac said.
Meanwhile, Toriola, has has said it was an honour to be reocgnised by the ITTF, adding that it was a privilege to be inducted into the '7 Club.
"It is a privilege to be next to you both and receive such recognition. I am proud to be in the 7 club with such champions and I hope I can inspire more kids to start playing table tennis around the world. Thank you ITTF for this trophy and everyone for your kind words." an elated Toriola said after the award
Segun Toriola began his Olympics journey in Barcelona '92 Games but did not go beyong the group stage, until 2004 Games in Athens he overcame Argentina’s Pablo Tabachnik to reach round two of the Men’s Singles competition for the first time.
At the Beijing 2008 Games, Toriola's confidence had grown as he achieve his personal best finish at an Olympic Games, reaching the third round of the singles and beating Joao Monteiro (Portugal) and Jean-Michel Saive in the process.
2008 was also the first Olympic Games to introduce the Team Event but while Toriola’s Nigeria won 3-2 against Russia and a swift exit followed.
After winning his preliminary round match against Canada’s Andre Ho, Toriola was drawn to play Sweden’s Jörgen Persson in round one of London 2012 but, unfortunately for the Nigerian player, that was as far as he would go as Persson won in five ends.
At Rio 2016, where he competed in his seventh Games, Segun Toriola knew that he carried some media interest heading into the Men’s Singles tournament and he caused a round one upset by defeating Dimitrij Prokopcov (Czech Republic) 4-2, a player placed 41 spots higher on the ITTF world rankings list (79th). Toriola then gave Japan’s Koki Niwa an exit scare in round two, but it wasn’t to be for Toriola as the Japanese contestant won in six games.
Toriola’s 41 shot rally against Singapore’s Gao Ning became the major highlight at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
ITTF Inducts Nigeria's Segun Toriola Into Olympics 7’ Club
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