PARA TABLE TENNIS: Akingbemisilu, several other players make new ITTF rankings

2023 ITTF Masters Para Open silver medalist Bolawa Akingbemisilu is leading the group of Nigerian players now making waves on the ranking released by the world table tennis ruling body.

Akingbemisilu, who made his international debut at the Open in Italy, is among the top seven in men’s class five of the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Para ranking.

Also, the quartet of Isau Ogunkunle, Tajudeen Agunbiade, Faith Obiora and Ahmed Koleosho have made a return to the world ranking.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four players’ inactiveness had earlier prompted their removal from the world ranking.

Akingbemisilu became one of the biggest movers in the world after he became the only African in the top seven in the world.

Ogunkunle, another silver medalist in Italy, is now ranked 17th in the men’s class four, while Koleosho is rated 40th in the men’s class three.

Agunbiade is rated 15th in the men’s class nine, while Olufemi Alabi also returned to 22nd in the men’s class 10.

The highest-rated Nigerian female player is Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi, who is ranked 11th, while compatriot Obiora is rated 12th in class five.

2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Faith Obazuaye also returned to the ranking, ranked 19th in the women’s class 10.

Speaking on the development, Sunday Odebode, manager of the para table tennis team, said the players’ return to the world ranking would surely help them.

“It will help them to gather enough points to secure their eventual qualification for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France. We are indeed excited with the performance of our players and the results of their outing in Italy have shown in the latest ranking released by ITTF.

“This is a good start on their way to qualify for the Paralympic Games, and we hope we can attend another competition before the continental qualifiers in Egypt later this year. This will help us to have more players making it to Paris and this will enhance our medal chances in France,” he said.

Odebode then expressed gratitude to the Delta Government for their support which made the team’s trip to Italy to be possible.

“We hope other states can take a cue from this gesture so that our players can gather enough points which will make them tobe sure of picking tickets to France,” he added.