Nigeria’s Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi first picked up a paddle six years ago and has not let it go ever since, as she is poised to be the country’s next big star.
Now training at the Lagos table tennis sports indoor hall from Monday to Friday, Ikpeoyi is hoping she can inspire more players to join the sport.
“I think I am leading the next generation as a young athlete and there are more young talented players coming up,” she said.
“My achievement in sport has really turned some of them to sports and those who were not serious before, are now. Most of them come around when I am training to catch me and some of them have improved drastically – both men and women.”
The 20-year-old, who competes in Class 5 wheelchair table tennis, served notice of her talent at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and finished as a runner-up in the women’s singles classes 3-5 to Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games silver medalist, Bhavina Patel of India.
She has won medals at the annual Lagos Open, and in 2021 she won bronze at the French Open, her first trip out of Africa.
After a short break over the holidays, Ikpeoyi already knew what her wish would be for the new year.
“I wish for sponsors to enable me to go to tournaments with qualification for Paris 2024,” she concluded.
Photo 1 Caption: Nigeria’s Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi first picked up a paddle six years ago and has not let it go ever since, as she is poised to be the country’s next big star. Photo: birmingham22.com
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