Rising table tennis star, Olawale Malik, is currently training to make his debut at the National Youth Games billed for Delta State.
Malik, 13, a Senior Secondary School student who attends Zappa Basic School Umuagu, Delta State was poised to take on some of the best young players in the country at the NYG which was initially billed to hold from February 8-18 at the Dennis Osadebey University Sports Complex in Asaba, but looked on helplessly as the Games were postponed due to the forthcoming general elections across the country.
Mailk, who is from Lagos State, earned his place as a fast-rising table tennis player in Delta State after battling through state qualifying stages in the U-13 category at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
But it was not an easy route to success.
The state champion had qualified to represent Zappa Basic School Umuagu at the state Schools’ Individual Table Tennis Championships National Finals for the second time.
“It was my first state schools championship final and I felt excited to play in it as coach Hilary (my personal coach) had trained me well for the event.
“I played against other good players of the U-13 category and I was victorious. Now I’m training for the NYG, which will hold in some months time.
When asked how he started playing table tennis, Malik said he dumped football for table tennis due to the bad tackles he suffered playing the round leather game.
“It was an easy decision for me to leave football for table tennis because of so many reasons,” Malik added.
“I love playing football a lot but I suffered so much pains from the knocks I received daily from training and most times I didn’t get the service I needed from my teammates during practices and matches because everyone wanted to score.
“I was playing table tennis while I played football but when I had the chance to take a decision, I dumped football immediately.”
Malik added that it was very strange and difficult at the start of his table tennis career because he relied on his old school tricks to succeed.
“I loved to taunt my opponents and make sure I distracted them by talking with them while playing and it worked,” he said.
“I built on my old tricks and skills set to earn my status in table tennis in Delta State. I love the swings and the backhands and I hope to become the best player in Nigeria like Quadri Aruna.”
Aruna is currently Africa’s top ranked men’s table tennis player who plays for Orenburg in Russia.
“He is my role model and I want to be like him. He is a champion on the big stage and that is something I love to achieve when I grow older than this. He was won laurels for Nigeria and my dream is to achieve that as well with my country.”
Malik opened up on how tough it was combining education with table tennis and the influence of his parents.
“It’s very tough I must say. The distance from my school to the stadium is quite far and I have to meet up to ensure I don’t get punished. I also need to be early in school and must complete my assignments daily.
“I believe in table tennis and I’m sure that I will make it just like Aruna, but it is very tough combining both. But my parents want me to finish my secondary school before going into table tennis fully.”
