Ibrahima Diaw was the first Senegalese to qualify for the Olympic table tennis tournament, but hoped to shine at the Tokyo 202 Games. But he was eliminated in the first round by Singaporean Zhe Yu Clarence Chew4 innings to 2.
From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
“I would like to have the colors in Senegal in a better way. But maybe it will be next time … ”While waiting to taste again, maybe at the Olympics, Ibrahima Diaw melts his disillusionment.
On Saturday, July 24, the very first table tennis player in Senegal’s history to qualify for the Olympics in the first round against Singaporean Zhe Yu Clarence Chew was eliminated, 4 sets to 2 (4-11, 11-4, 3-11, 11-13, 11-3, 10-12). “It’s disappointing because I would have liked to do better, lose the one who is aiming for a medal in Tokyo. But my opponent played really well. He was really surprising. I may have lacked a solution at the time. I had met him once in doubles, but never in singles ”.
“I’m happy to be at the Olympics, but …”
Nathanaël Molin, Ibrahima Diaw’s coach, confirms: “We obviously had the ambition to go further. But it was difficult tactically because we were surprised by the quality of his short play. ”
Ibrahima Diawsoupire. The one who was born in France but who chose to represent his father’s country went so far as to give up the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games to be in shape this Saturday. “Of course I’m happy to be at the Olympics, but it’s not a match I would remember. I must quickly forget that, concludes the one who is already looking towards Paris 2024.
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