Tennis boss doubts Merountoun’s fitness for 2008 Olympics

Niyi Alebiosu, Lagos - 14.05.2008

FOLLOWING his poor show and defeat in the final of the 1st O'jez National Open Table Tennis Championship, the president of the Nigeria Table-Tennis Federation (NTTF), Dr. Cosmas Maduka, has expressed fear over the performance and fitness of Beijing Olympic-bound national player, Monday Merountoun at the games later in the year.

The NTTF boss expressed fear that the player might not do well or go far in the table tennis event of the games because of his over blowing weight.

The disappointed table tennis boss informed that the player had been told several times to work on his weight so as to be at the same pace with other players but still remained defiant.
On whether the Olympic ticket would be withdrawn from

Merountoun, Maduka debunked such move, saying it was not possible because he has automatic ticket and there was no way anybody could withdraw it from him.

Maduka said: "My God is this what Monday will play at the Olympics. He just has to shed some weight if he really wants to go far at the games."

But a sports scientist and former African number one female table tennis champion, Bose Kaffo has a different opinion about Merotoun's blowing weight.

According to her, the weight does not matter in the game but what is needed to be done is for the player to work on his foot effectively.

"Though, he has weight but that does not really matter. What he needs is to work on foot work effectively as you know that Monday is good with his hand. If this is done, there would be no cause for alarm," Kaffo said.