It is no longer news that Nigerian junior Table Tennis sensation, Usman Ishola Okanlawon, on May 28, 2021 made history in faraway Tunis, capital of Tunisia when he became the first African in history to win a silver medal in the ITTF WTT Youth Star contender series.
No African player has ever gone beyond the round of 16 in a WTT World Youth Star contender series but Okanlawon broke the jinx thus becoming the first African U15 player to emerge second in the World Youth contender series and first overall in Africa in the U15 category.
In the pulsating final at the Salle Multisiciplanaire de Rades in Tunis, Russia’s, Ilia Koniukhov defeated Usman Okanlawon (11-8, 11-8, 11-9) to win the series.
In this exclusive interview, sunrisetimes.com.ng and sportsgalore.com.ng had a rare opportunity for a chat with the Chairman, caretaker committee of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, NTTF, Engineer Ishaku Tikon on the recent exploits of junior international, Usman Okanlawon and the subsequent adoption of three youngers from the NTTF family by the Honourable Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare into the Adopt-an- Athlete Initiative;
Q: Good afternoon sir, congratulations on the latest achievements of the NTTF viz-a-viz the exploits of Usman Okanlawon in the recently concluded ITTF WTT Youth Star contender series in Tunisia.
Tikon: Thank you. It has been my mandate even before I became the president of NTTF, is to discover, nurture and unveil young talents in table tennis as they will be the feature of Nigeria in table tennis. You will agree with me that through the efforts of the present Nigerian players that we have been captured and seen as one of the world’s best table tennis country but you see they are aging and if care is taking there will be vacuum and it will not be good for us
Q: The FMY&SD has also adopted 3 of your youngsters, how does that make you feel?
Tikon: First I must say I am happy as the captain on board seeing 3 of my youngster being adopted by the ministry of Sports to benefit on the adopt- an-athlete package. This is good because their momentum will be sustained and even go higher. I am elated and grateful to the Honourable minister for the kind gesture.
Q: You once said the core mandate of your federation is to discover, nurture and unveil young talents in Table tennis, would you say you are in line in achieving these mandates?
Tikon: Yes we are very much in line. We are already exposing the junior players to world championship and they are beginning to compete with world best stars like what I just did with the likes of Usman Okanlawon, the Mustapha Brothers(Musa and Mustapha), and of course Samuel Boboye doing very well.
Q: What is the next step for the likes of Usman Okanlawon, the Mustapha brothers and others youngsters like Mathew Kuti, Samuel Boboye, Abdulfatai Abdulbasit and Timilehin Ajibade?
Tikon: To sustain the momentum and improve on continuing investing on them and sustain the youth development programs to improve these players because they are the future of Nigeria in table tennis
Q: The NTTF under your watch has invested so much in youth development, can you tell us the plans you have in this critical area as we prepare for another election?
Tikon: We want to sustain the gains we have made so far, continue the hard work of the federation under my leadership through the numerous events and championships we intend to execute so we can harvest more talents and stars to be integrated into the existing team to continue to dominate in the African continent and beyond.
Q: What is the relationship between Hoffnung Sports Foundation, Aqua Gardens and the NTTF?
Tikon: A very cordial and perfect relationship, Hoffnung Sports Foundation and Aqua Gardens are our strategic partners and the federation will continue to work with them to achieve our goals.
