Isau Ogunkunle was a force to reckon with in the quarterfinals of the men’s Singles Class 4, defeating home favourite, Maxime Thomas, 3-1 to become Nigeria’s first semifinalist in Para Table Tennis at the ongoing Paralympic Games.
Thomas, a three-time Paralympic Bronze medallist, got stunned by Ogunkunle who came back from a set down to clinch the victory (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-6). This victory is notable as it represents Ogunkunle’s second win over a top-seeded player in the tournament.
Previously, Ogunkunle’s highest achievement at the Paralympics was reaching the quarterfinals in Tokyo 2021. This time, he has secured a spot in his first-ever Paralympic semifinal.