I never doubted my ability to secure an Olympic spot, says Nigerian athlete

Nigerian table tennis star Fatimo Bello has expressed her joy after qualifying for the Olympics scheduled to be held in Paris this summer.

Ahead of the continental qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda, the 27-year-old openly stated his intention to participate in the 2024 Olympics.

After his less than impressive showing at the 2023 African Games in Ghana, it is unclear how Bello will progress.

But now he is ready to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing Nigeria in table tennis.

Bello, a back-to-back National Sports Festival Champion (Edo 2021 & Delta 2023), earned one of Rwanda’s four spots.

Previously, Bello’s ranking soared after a stellar performance at the 2022 ITTF Africa Cup of Nations, making her the highest-ranked Nigerian female player in the world.

Also Read: Table Tennis Federation Confirms Aruna and Other Athletes for Paris Olympics

Despite dropping in the rankings in 2023 due to inactivity, Bello managed to secure her place in Paris by beating Algeria’s Lynda Loghraibi in qualifying.

“When people talk about the Olympics, that’s not the reason I started playing table tennis because I love the game and the encouragement from my father and brother inspired me to be more active in the game,” he said.

“Even when my form was down, 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 get into 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,” he said.

He added: “I am aware of the challenges that the Olympics will bring, with more and more stars competing, and I will not go there just to increase the number of athletes, but to make an impact.

“Many senior players have given me advice and support, and I am grateful for their guidance. I am more familiar with the terrain now, having taken a longer route to qualify for the Olympics.”

The post I never doubted my ability to secure a place at the Olympics, says Nigerian athlete appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.