Ayoola
Nigeria will be represented by Umar Ayoola and Elizabeth Emelike at the prestigious ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge 2026, scheduled for October 12–18 at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, United Kingdom.
The selection marks another important step for Nigeria’s emerging talents on the global junior table tennis stage, with the duo earning places among 36 of the world’s most promising Under-12 players from 26 countries.
Organised jointly by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and Table Tennis England, the World Hopes Week & Challenge is a key component of the ITTF’s global talent identification pathway.
The week-long programme will combine intensive technical training with competitive action, giving the young players an opportunity to work with elite coaches and test themselves against some of the leading prospects in their age category.
Ayoola and Emelike secured their places after impressive performances at the Africa Hopes Week and Challenge in Ghana, where they emerged among the continent’s standout young players.
The ITTF said participants were selected through their respective Continental Hopes programmes, with the strongest performers earning progression to the global event.
Beyond results in the Challenge competition, players will be assessed on their technical ability, attitude towards training and overall development potential. The most outstanding performers will earn selection to the prestigious Hopes Team, providing a potential pathway into the ITTF High Performance programme.
Nigeria’s representatives will be joined by fellow African prospects Zeina Farouk and Adam Lashin of Egypt, Tunisia’s Ritej Charif and Uganda’s Joseph Sebatindira.
The international field also includes players from Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, France, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, Romania, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Venezuela, highlighting the global reach of the ITTF’s youth development programme.
For Ayoola and Emelike, the Sheffield event offers an opportunity to gain valuable international experience, sharpen their skills against some of the world’s best young players and further strengthen Nigeria’s presence in the global junior table tennis pathway.
