African Para Table Tennis Champion, Isau Ogunkunle has called for financial support and proper camping for para athletes ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
The multiple national champion, Isau Ogunkunle defeated five-time Paralympian Eid-Saleh (Egypt) 3-1 in the class four final at the 2023 ITTF African Para Championships in Giza, Egypt to book a slot at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Ogunkunle told www.aclsports.com that securing one of the slots to the Paralympic is an opportunity to show his talent to the world.
The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist said, “I felt excited when I won the Africa Para Table Tennis Championship in Giza, Egypt because I worked hard and prayed to ensure I qualify for the Paralympic Games. This is an avenue to show my skills and talents to the world again.
“As the only player from Ogun State to qualify in the Para Table Tennis event for Paralympics Games in Paris later this year, I need maximum support from the State Government as they have been doing before.
“I am appealing to His Excellency Dapo Abiodun to specifically support me in terms of financial, and equipment”, he added.
“I am using this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to give the Para Table Tennis players maximum support by exposing us to more International tournaments in order to compete with some of the best players in the world,” Ogunkunle told www.aclsports.com
He said the Para Table Tennis players can surpass the record of Nigeria Para Powerlifting Team at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
The National Sports Festival Gold medallist said, “Nigeria secured 9 out of 14 slots at the Paralympic Qualifier qualifiers last year; we are not joking this time around.
“We are going to surpass the record of the powerlifters by securing the most medals at the forthcoming Games. The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation has been our backbone for a long time; they ensured we are carried along in most of the International Championships”.
The 2024 Paralympic Games will take place from 28th August to 8th September 2024 in Paris, France.
