Nigeria's Ayoola and Emelike to Compete at ITTF 2026 Event

Nigeria’s Umar Ayoola and Elizabeth Emelike have been selected to represent the country at the ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge 2026, taking place from October 12 to 18 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, United Kingdom. This prestigious junior table tennis event will feature 36 U-12 players from 26 countries.

The event is jointly organized by the International Table Tennis Federation and Table Tennis England and serves as the final stage of the ITTF’s talent identification pathway. Ayoola and Emelike earned their spots after impressive performances at the Africa Hopes Week and Challenge held in Ghana, making them among the continent’s top prospects.

Participants were selected through their respective Continental Hopes programmes, with only the strongest performers advancing. The week-long event will include intensive training and a Challenge competition, with assessments based on technical ability, training attitude, and overall development potential.

Outstanding performers will be considered for the Hopes Team, providing a fast-track opportunity into the ITTF High Performance pathway.