TABLE TENNIS Kenyan top seed Brian Mutua highlights what let him down at ITTF Africa Cup

Mutua was the only player from the host nation to make it to the round of 16 in the continental showpiece

Tennis sensation Brian Mutua says he needs to work on his his physical fitness and speed after struggling at the ongoing ITTF Africa Cup in Nairobi.

Mutua, who is ranked among the top table tennis players in Kenya started the continental event on high before falling off. He was the only player from the host nation who qualified for the round of 16 in the prestigious championship.

But after his 4-0 loss to Nigeria’s Taiwo Mati, he was relegated to the classification match where he lost 3-0 to Madagascan Fabio Rakotoarimanana in the 13-16 playoff. 

Mutua was the only Kenyan to make it to the round of 16 in the continental showpiece which will draw its curtains on Saturday.

"I am impressed by the progress I have made so far. I had been preparing for this tournament. However, I have to work on my physical fitness because most of the players are very fit. I need to work on that a lot and my speed,” Mutua said.

Next in line is the World Table Tennis Championships scheduled for May 20-28 in Durban, South Africa.

Mutua believes that the coming of the global event to Africa is a great step and will raise the standards of the game on the continent.

“It’s a great step forward regrading the game. It will be able to raise the standard of the game in Africa. Many of the people will want to watch greats like Ma Long and that will place us on the world map,” he said.