Tunisia at the 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) held in Rabat, Morocco, beat Algeria to win the hosting right for African Olympic qualifying tournament for the 2020 Olympics holding in Tokyo, Japan.
National Daily gathered that 13 delegates were present and formed quorum at the AGM. Majority of the delegates voted in favour of Tunisia which votes from eight delegates while Algeria got five votes to lose the hosting rights to Tunisia.
Egypt has already secured the slot for team event for Africa. Two Egyptians players are qualified to compete in the singles and doubles event of the Tokyo Olympic Games. The qualifying tournament in Tunisia will produce another four males and four females to complete for African slots for the Games in Japan.
Nigeria narrowly lost the slot to Egypt in men and women event at the final of the 12th African Games. Egypt won the two events with 3-2 as Omar Assar and Dina Meshref led the North African victory.
National Daily gathered that Africa’s highest ranked player, Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri, will be joined by players from Tunisia, Congo Brazzaville and others at the Qualifying Tournament in Tunisia. Each coutnry is expected to register two males and two females for the qualifying tournament. Four men and four women will qualify to Tokyo from Tunisia.
The President of Tunisian Table Tennis Federation (TTTF), Lotfi Guerfel, had said that the country has the necessary experience to stage a befitting tournament.
“We have the required experience to stage a world class tournament and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament would not be an exception. We will be hosting the Africa Top 16 Cup as well and we are ready to welcome the whole continent,” the TTTF boss said.