Taiwo Mati, Nigeria’s table tennis prospect, has attributed his recent string of losses at WTT events to financial constraints, hindering his ability to participate in more tournaments.
In an exclusive interview, the 20-year-old expressed his determination to succeed despite a tough run of results. “Firstly, I don’t feel negative about the results,” Mati said. “I feel more motivated to keep on going and hope for the best moment.”
Mati’s recent performances have been disappointing, losing all six singles games since January’s WTT Contender Muscat. Despite this, he remains optimistic about his future prospects. “There’s really nothing missing specifically,” he explained. “All I just need is to get used to the environment, which means attending more WTT events. The more I do, the more I get better feelings and more confident.”
However, Mati cited lack of sponsorship and funding as the primary reason for his limited participation in WTT events. “The reason affecting my performance is inability to attend enough WTT events due to lack of sponsor and fund,” he stated.
Despite the setbacks, Mati remains mentally stable and focused on improving his game. “As an athlete, I’m always hoping for the worst and great results, so whichever way it goes, I’m always ready to face the challenges,” he said. “So mentally, I’m stable enough.”
Mati recognizes areas for growth, both tactically and physically. “There’s always room for improvements, which means I still have a lot to improve on and adjust in my game mentally and physically,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Mati plans to return to France to resume club duties. “My next plan is to go back to France and prepare for my club league matches,” he said.
With determination and hard work, Mati is confident that he can overcome the challenges and achieve success in the world of table tennis.