Nigerian t’tennis couple eye Paralympics gold

Nigeria’s para table tennis couple, Christiana and Kayode Alabi, who are preparing to feature at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are upbeat about their chances of winning gold at the summer Games which holds from August 28 to September 8, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

In September 2023, they won their respective events at the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African Para Championships in Giza, Egypt, which doubled as a qualification opportunity for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Having had ample of time to prepare for the Games, the Alabis say they don’t just want to make up the numbers in Paris.

“I believe that for both of us to be the No.1 in our country, and the No.1 in Africa, we can be the No.1 in the world,” Kayode said via the International Paralympic Committee website.

“So, we are not just going there to participate – we are going there for a mission that we want to achieve. We want to get the gold.”

Kaydode and Christiana met in 2017 during the national trials in Lagos and tied the knot in November 2022.

Since then, the inseparable pair have trained together, helping each other grow as they now set their eyes on Paris.

In 2021, Christiana won a bronze medal at the French Open, in her first trip out of Africa.

“He taught me everything about table tennis – how to serve, how to be in the right position – everything,” she said.

“We watch a lot of videos at home. We normally set up the camera ourselves in our training, so when we are at home watch it, going through it to see where we have made mistakes, so that the next day we can correct them,” Kayode said.

“Every day when we go home, we watch ourselves and other people playing, as well as players we have played before.”

The IPC on its website also described the couple as role models for athletes across the globe.

“Meet para table tennis power couple Christiana and Kayode Alabi, who are preparing to represent Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games this summer,” IPC stated.

“Nigeria’s Para table tennis power couple Christiana and Kayode Alabi met through the sport and spend most of their waking hours striving to get better, aiming for success at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.”