NIGERIA OPEN: Frenchman Hachard wants to retain doubles title

The 2017 ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open men’s doubles champion, France’s Antoine Hachard, is looking forward to retaining the title he won alongside compatriot Gregoire Jean in his first visit to Lagos.

Despite not making it to the podium in the men’s singles, Hachard is eager to make a return to Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre again this year with the hope of exceeding his previous performance.

Apart from aiming for a better outing this year, the Frenchman would love to experience the beautiful and exciting atmosphere inside the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

“I first heard about the excitement of the tournament in 2016 after watching the mesmerising dancing step of Finland’s Olah Bendek when he emerged winner at the 2016 edition of Nigeria Open. I decided to return this year because it will afford me the opportunity to have a good result as I felt very great last year,” he said in an NTTF press release.

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Hachard described the organization of the tournament as top-notch. And having played as a junior in Tunisia and Morocco, the Frenchman described the Nigeria Open’s experience as awesome and unique.

“The last year’s edition of Nigeria Open was well organized and it was a very special atmosphere because the crowd was totally involved during the matches and I loved this kind of experience. This made me to play well and I am looking forward to same experience this year.

“2017 was not my first visit to Africa because I played several competitions in Tunisia and Morocco as a junior player but my experience in Lagos was quite unique. My targets this year are to retain the men’s doubles title as well as reach semi final or final of the singles event,” he added.

The 2018 edition of the ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open is billed to take place in Lagos from Wednesday 8th August to Sunday 13th August.

 

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