by Olalekan Okusan, ITTF African Press Officer

Present at the Sun International 2016 World Junior Championships in Cape Town and the reigning Junior Girls’ Singles national champion, the success in Gaboronne means she will compete in the forthcoming 2018 ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup to be staged in Nairobi, Kenya from Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd March.

A pupil at Trafalgar High School, Musfiquh Kalam is most certainly looking forward with great anticipation to the tournament that is a qualification for the Women’s World Cup to be staged later in the year.

She explained:

“I feel overwhelmingly excited and full of joy to qualify for the ITTF Africa Top 16 Cup as a junior player.

For me winning against senior top players meant a lot to me. It has given me more confidence to achieve more in the sport. I am more motivated. Now I know I can give senior players a game and win against them.

Firstly I would like to reach the quarter-finals then thereafter I want to take it match for match. My coach Graham Van As and I are working hard and preparing well for this competition mentally and physically. I am not going to be playing under any pressure because as a junior I have nothing to lose and I will make my country proud.

We don’t receive enough international exposure and competition to improve our game. I believe with more exposure, we can be at par with the best in Africa.”