Nigeria Allowed to Play Midway in Table TennisA table tennis team of Nigeria was allowed to play for the first time on Sunday, the fourth day of the 21st Universiade table tennis competitions.The Nigerian team arrived in Beijing Saturday night and they missed the deadline for registration for singles and doubles events, which is 1800 local time of August 23, according to the regulations of the organizing committee of the Universiade. But the table tennis department of the Games allowed them to play in the men's and women's doubles events. "We left Nigeria days ago and had a 4-day 24-hours flight to Beijing," said a player from Nigeria. "It is a real pity that we can only play two out of seven events in table tennis. We are frustrated now but we want to play." According to chief referee Sun Qilin, since the team games finished on Saturday and matches of singles and mixed doubles have already began, it is impossible for Nigerian players to take part. "Considering the men's and women's doubles competitions have not begun, we will involve them in the men's and singles doubles although they have missed the deadline and the drawing," said Sun. After a brief meeting on Sunday afternoon, Nigeria replaced Mongolia, which withdrew from the competition last Thursday, in both men's and women's events. |
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