Taiwo Mati, the unranked table tennis sensation, is quickly making a name for himself as one of Nigeria’s rising stars in the sport. At just 14 years old, the Ondo State-born left-hander is being touted as the future successor to Nigeria’s number one, Aruna Quadri, despite starting his athletic journey with a different passion—football.
Like many young athletes, football was Mati’s first love. However, concerns from his parents about the risk of injury led him to explore other sports. “I loved football and played it regularly, but my parents were worried I’d get hurt,” Mati recalls. “So, I decided to give table tennis a try after watching my older brother play.”
With guidance from his brother’s coach, Olakunle Fadoju, Mati quickly adapted to the sport and began to shine. By the age of 12, he had already won the National Youth Games and earned two gold medals at the 2017 ITTF Junior Open in Egypt as an unseeded player.
This year has been particularly remarkable for Mati. In April, despite having no world ranking, he competed in four finals at the 2019 Ghana Junior and Cadet Open in Accra, winning two titles. Teaming up with Emmanuel Augustine, Mati clinched the cadet boys’ doubles title and followed that with a victory in the cadet boys’ singles, defeating fellow Nigerian Jamiu Ayanwale.
Mati’s winning streak continued last month at the ITTF Junior Circuit in Morocco, where he captured two more gold medals. On June 26, he made headlines again by coming from two sets down to defeat Akinwale Fagbamila 4-2 in the final of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation trials, securing a spot in the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco.
For Mati, the path to success has been challenging, but his determination and talent have positioned him as a future star in the sport. His journey is just beginning, but he is already making significant strides toward becoming one of the top table tennis players in Africa.
