Table-Tennis: Nigeria’s Ayoola, Emelike Qualify for ITTF World Hopes Week

Two Nigerian youngsters, Umar Ayoola and Elizabeth Emelike, have been selected for the ITTF World Hopes Week and Challenge 2026 in Sheffield, United Kingdom.
The event is scheduled for between Oct. 12 and Oct. 18 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
Ayoola and Emelike earned their places after impressive performances at the Africa Hopes Week and Challenge held earlier in the year in Accra, Ghana.
They are among six African players selected for the prestigious talent development programme.
The other African representatives are Egypt’s Zeina Farouk and Adam Lashin, Tunisia’s Ritej Charif and Uganda’s Joseph Sebatindira.
The six players will join 30 other Under-12 talents from 22 countries for a week of intensive training and competition.
The programme is jointly organised by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Table Tennis England.
It is the final stage of the year-long Continental Hopes Programme, which identifies and develops promising young players across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania.
According to ITTF-Africa Media, the 2026 edition will feature 36 players from 26 member associations.
The players were selected through their respective Continental Hopes programmes, with only outstanding performers advancing to the global event.
Throughout the week, the young players will receive high-level technical training from elite international coaches.
They will also compete in the Challenge tournament as part of the programme.
However, selection will not be based only on match results.
The players will also be assessed on their technical skills, attitude to training and overall potential for long-term development.
The best performers will earn places in the prestigious Hopes Team, giving them a fast-track route into the ITTF High Performance pathway.
The international line-up includes players from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, England, Spain, Finland, France, Guyana, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico.
Others are New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Romania, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.
The programme will also provide opportunities for cultural exchange, learning and personal development.
For Ayoola and Emelike, the event provides an opportunity to gain valuable international experience and compete against some of the world’s most promising young players.
Their participation also highlights the growing potential of Nigeria and Africa in youth table tennis.
The ITTF World Hopes Week and Challenge is widely regarded as an important pathway for identifying and nurturing future table tennis stars