Reigning African U-19 table tennis champion, Taiwo Mati, is upbeat about beginning his quest to land the U-19 ITTF World Youth Championships with a win over Australia’s Nicholas Lum at the Salle Omnisports de Rades on Tuesday, The PUNCH reports.
The Ondo-born teenager, who defeated Gamal Marwan of Egypt 4-1 to win the U-19 boys’ title at the 2022 ITTF African Youth Championship in July, says he is fully prepared for the tournament.
“It is the last major tournament of the year and I want to finish it on a high note,” Mati told The PUNCH. “I have prepared well for this tournament and I hope to win, as every player will dream.”
Mati, who moved up two spots in the latest ITTF ranking from 101 to 99, amassing a total of 189 points in the month under review, also lamented the absence of Nigeria from the event. “It’s unfortunate that we will not be competing in the team event,” Mati added.
In the mixed U-19 doubles event, Mati will partner Egypt’s Roa Zaki in the round of 32 to face Korean duo Kim Seong-jin and Oh Junsung on Tuesday (today), while in the U-19 boys’ doubles event, he will pair Egypt’s Marwan Gamal.
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