Rising table tennis star Olawale Malik is currently training for his debut at the National Youth Games (NYG) slated for Delta State. The 13‑year‑old senior secondary student attends Zappa Basic School in Umuagu, Delta State, and was set to compete against some of the nation’s top young players. The NYG was originally scheduled for February 8‑18 at the Dennis Osadebey University Sports Complex in Asaba, but it has been postponed due to the upcoming general elections.
Malik, who hails from Lagos State, earned his place as a fast‑rising talent after battling through the state qualifying stages in the U‑13 category at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba. He qualified to represent Zappa Basic School 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,” he said. “I played against other strong U‑13 players and emerged victorious. Now I’m training for the NYG, which will be held in a few months.”
When asked how he began playing table tennis, Malik explained that he abandoned football after suffering frequent injuries from harsh tackles. “It was an easy decision to leave football for table tennis for many reasons,” he said. “I love football, but the constant knocks during training and the lack of support from teammates—who were always focused on scoring—made it painful. I was playing table tennis alongside football, and when I could decide, I quit football immediately.”
Malik admitted that the early days of his table tennis career were strange and challenging because he relied on old school tricks. “I liked to taunt my opponents and distract them by talking while playing, and it worked,” he recalled. “I built on those tricks and skills to earn my status in Delta State. I love the swings and backhands, and I hope to become the best player in Nigeria like Quadri Aruna.” Aruna, Africa’s top‑ranked male player who currently competes for Orenburg in Russia, is Malik’s role model. “He is a champion on the big stage, and I want to achieve the same success for Nigeria,” Malik said.
Balancing education with table tennis is demanding, Malik noted, especially given the distance between his school and the stadium. “I have to be punctual at school, complete my assignments daily, and ensure I’m not punished for missing classes,” he explained. “I believe in table tennis and am confident I can succeed like Aruna, but it’s tough to combine both. My parents want me to finish secondary school before I pursue table tennis full‑time.”
Comments are closed for this story.