Kuti Mathew is having a tournament of a lifetime after winning his first senior gold at the ITTF Africa Championship.
His performance and rise at the ITTF-Africa championships puts him on the exclusive list of rising stars from Nigeria in table tennis.
Born in 2011, Kuti is joining the likes of Mati Taiwo, Boboye, and Azeez Solanke, among others.
The doubles team of Olajide Omotayo and Kuti Mathew secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Egypt’s Ghallab Aly and Helmy Mahmoud in the men’s doubles semi-finals.
After missing out in the mixed and women’s doubles, Nigeria returns to a final at the ITTF Africa Championship.
They face compatriots Muizz Adegoke and AbdulBasit Abdulfatai in the final set on Saturday.
Kuti Mathew Rules Nigeria and West Africa
Kuti dominated the Nigerian scene in 2023 winning the majority of the national tournaments in Nigeria and made his African Games debut alongside Amadi Umeh and experienced stars like Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo, and Taiwo Mati to compete in the men’s events.
Kuti’s high point came in December 2023, when within 24 hours he won two national titles after emerging as men’s singles champion at the maiden Daniel Ford tournament and the 2nd Renewed Hope championships held in Lagos.
Furthermore, Kuti Mathew emerged as the undisputed champion after a series of impressive victories.
In the West Africa Regional Championships final held in Lome from April 25th to 27th, 2024, he delivered a stellar performance against Oba Ova Kizito from Ivory Coast, securing the championship title with a commanding 4-1 victory.
First Senior Continental Medal For the Sensation
Earlier Nigeria emerged as the Africa Senior Men’s Team title for the first time in seven years.
The team, inspired by Quadri Aruna, Olajide Omotayo, and Kuti Matthew, defeated Algeria 3-1 in the final to reclaim the title they last won in 2018 in Mauritius at the ITTF Africa Championship.
Meanwhile, speaking about Kuti Mathew, Nigeria, and African star Aruna Quadri is excited by the talent and courage of the youngster.
“You could see how we celebrated it. It’s great to play alongside the new generation. I am particularly very proud of Kuti and Matthew because he surprised all of us, and I hope that they all continue to grow.”
14-year-old sensation Matthew Kuti entered the top 200 ranking of the International Table Tennis Federation, occupying the 185th position in the rankings released on April 30.
Currently, Kuti uses his right hand and a playing style of grip shakehand ranks 186 and 79 rating by ITTF.
After helping Nigeria to win the ITTF West Africa Regional Championships in Togo in April, Kuti Mathew climbed 750 spots to his new position in the men’s singles category.
Also, the teenage sensation was a part of the Nigerian contingent that won silver in the table tennis team’s event at the 13th African Games in March.