With the exit of Christiana Alabi, Abiola Adesope, and Kayode Alabi from the table tennis event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Team Nigeria’s medal hope now rests on Isau Ogunkunle. He is set to face Frenchman Maxime Thomas in the Men’s Class 4 quarterfinals.
Earlier on Tuesday, September 3, Christiana Alabi, competing in the Women’s Class 5, was defeated 3-1 by Chile’s Tamara Leonelli, ending her maiden Paralympic outing in the first round.
Abiola Adesope also bowed out in the first round of the Men’s Class 9, losing 3-0 to France’s Lucas Didier. Kayode Alabi, the first Nigerian to reach the quarterfinals, was overpowered by Thailand’s Rungroj Thainiyom with a 3-0 scoreline.
All eyes are now on Ogunkunle, a quarterfinalist at Tokyo 2020 and the African champion, as he takes on the experienced Frenchman in what promises to be a clash of experience versus youth.
Ogunkunle is determined to avenge his previous losses to Thomas, stating, “This is the same guy who defeated me 3-2 in the Tokyo 2020 quarterfinals and again in Italy two years ago. I won’t lose to him a third time. I’m confident we will return home with a medal.”