Question: How did you receive the news of being the captain of Team Nigeria to the Tokyo Olympics?
Quadri Aruna: Well, it was shocking but similarly, I was very happy. I think it is a plus for table tennis players in the country. I was really excited when I received the news.
Question: And how have you been coping with the other athletes you are leading here?
Quadri Aruna: I think we are all doing very fine. We are all one big family. We have been communicating very well and we are looking forward to giving our best for the country.
Question: You are seeded 15 for the Olympics. Does that put pressure on you or you are good with it?
Quadri Aruna: It puts no pressure and I think it is a very good thing. I am going to be starting from third round. But of course, the people who are starting from first and second rounds have better opportunities because I think they would have warmed up very well, they would have gotten used to the tournament environment.
But of course, there is nothing we can do about that. I’ve been playing like that previously. I think I’m ready to see how things go and I’m very positive.
Question: Your last outing at the last Olympics in Rio, Brazil you set a record. Looking at that, does that put added pressure on you?
Quadri Aruna: For me it’s no pressure. Every tournament is a challenge. Like I said, we are looking forward to giving our best. This is the strongest Olympics so far. The reason I’m saying this is because we are having the top hundred players in the draws if you can check. So I think it’s going to be the strongest Olympics so far.
I think I’m just here to give my very best, no pressure whatsoever and we’ll see how things will go. With pressure,it might be even more difficult. In Rio I was just playing normally without pressure and it went very well. Here also it is almost like the same thing in Rio, even more difficult here. But of course it’s the same kind of situation for everyone.
So I’m looking forward to doing my best.
Question: What are your expectations?
Quadri: My expectations is always to be a good ambassador for my country, my sponsors, my club, fans and my family. With that, it means a good name is better than riches. I’m going to be playing a doping-free games, and we will see. I have prepared very well. My expectation is also to play very well, give everything to my country and then see how it goes.
Question: Any message for Nigerians back home?
Quadri: They should be praying for us because we want to make them proud.