Nigerian table tennis player Fatimo Bello has indicated that she wants to make a remarkable performance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which will be held from July 28 to August 10, 2024.
Bello, who secured her Olympic ticket by beating Algeria's Lynda Loghraibi in the qualifiers, reflected on her road to the Olympics in a press release provided to Completesports.com by the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation (NTTF). She said it was not an easy road.
Bello spoke about her continental qualifications in Kigali, Rwanda, where she openly declared her intention to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in France. She stressed that despite her less impressive performances at the 2023 African Games in Ghana, she was still confident in her own abilities.
Bello, winner of two consecutive National Sports Festival championships (Edo 2021 and Delta 2023), secured one of the four starting spots in Rwanda.
Bello’s journey has been one of resilience and determination. Her ranking skyrocketed after a remarkable performance at the 2022 ITTF Africa Cup, making her the highest-ranked Nigerian female table tennis player in the world. Although her rating dropped in 2023 due to inactivity, she persevered and secured a spot at Paris 2024 by beating Algeria’s Lynda Loghraibi in the qualifiers.
When people talked about the Olympics, she said that I didn't start playing table tennis because I loved the sport and that the encouragement from my father and brother inspired me to put more effort into the sport.
Even when my game deteriorated, especially at the last African Games in Ghana, I never doubted my ability because being part of the Nigerian national team is a rare privilege, so I cherish it very much. Especially in a country with millions of players, and for you to make it to the team is not an easy task. I knew that if I could be part of the team, going to Kigali would definitely give me the opportunity to be part of the Olympics, Bello said.
As she prepares for her Olympic debut, Bello remains focused on making an impact. She values the guidance of senior players and is ready to compete against the best players in the world.
She added: I am aware of the challenge that the Olympics bring. There are more stars involved. I am not going there just to increase the number of participants, but to make a difference.
