Matti eyes 2028 Olympic qualification

Kwara-born table tennis player Tobi Matti has set his sights firmly on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, viewing it as the ultimate benchmark for his professional career. The 25-year-old, who has spent over five years competing in Italy, stated that qualifying for the Olympics is his primary objective as he aims to establish himself among the sport's elite.

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My goal is to participate in the 2028 Olympics and also attend multiple international tournaments, and that ambition has shaped my journey despite the challenges I face in trying to progress at this level.

Matti acknowledged the significant challenges he faces in pursuing his Olympic dream, particularly the financial strain of competing internationally without consistent sponsorship. He has largely relied on personal funding to sustain his career, finding participation in overseas competitions difficult due to the absence of structured support. Despite these hurdles, he remains determined to compete at the highest possible level.

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My experience pursuing my professional aspirations internationally has been quite demanding due to the absence of sponsorship.

Having begun playing table tennis at age eight in Nigeria, Matti pursued a degree in Business Administration before moving to Europe. He has represented Nigeria at events like the ITTF Nigeria Open and the Africa Senior Table Tennis Team Championship. In Italy, he achieved league success, winning a title with TT Ennio Cristofaro after several near misses. He also continues to support grassroots development, having previously donated equipment to young players in Kwara.

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Winning the league title has been challenging. As the team’s number one player, my team and I struggled for three years, consistently finishing second or third. We eventually secured the league title in our third year.