Team Nigeria’s table tennis campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics began on a disappointing note as Aruna Quadri and Olajide Omotayo were both eliminated in the men’s singles event.

The duo faced tough opponents in the Round of 64 on Saturday at the South Paris Arena.

Iran’s Noshad Alamiyan celebrates as he plays against Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo. (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)

Omotayo went up against Iranian Noshad Alamiyan, known for his unpredictable playstyle, and suffered a 4-1 defeat.

Although Omotayo, 29, won the first set comfortably with a score of 11-5, he couldn’t maintain the momentum, losing the next three sets 11-4, 12-10, and 11-8.

Aruna Quadri, 35, encountered Romania’s Eduard Ionescu later in the evening.

Despite taking an early lead by winning the first three sets with scores of 11-8, 11-9, and 11-6, Quadri couldn’t close out the match.

He lost the next four sets in a dramatic turn of events, ending with a 4-3 defeat (11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 9-11, 11-13).