Nigeria’s players in the men’s table tennis  event of the ongoing Olympic Games on Saturday lost their matches in the first round of the competition.

Quadri Aruna lost 3-4 in his round of 64 match at the South Paris Arena to Eduard Ionescu of Romania.

Aruna’s hopes of repeating his Rio 2016 quarter-finals performance went up in smoke when the 20-year-old Ionescu made it a thrilling Olympic debut for himself.

He rallied back to win with an 8-11 9-11 6-11 11-8 12-10 11-9 13-11 scoreline, in spite of having played a match earlier in the day.

The Nigerian won the first three games —-  11-8 11-9 11-6 —- only for Ionesco to turn the match on its head by winning the next two games —- 11-8 12-10—- to take the match to seven games.

His opponent then won 11-9 13-11 to take the match and head to the round of 32.

Earlier in the day, Olajide Omotayo had lost 1-4 to Iranian Noshad Alamiyan.

The result meant both Nigerians are out of the men’s singles event of the competition.(NAN)