Oyebode shines at ITTF Italian Junior Open
Nigerian-born John Oyebode claimed two gold medals in the cadet event at the just concluded 2017 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Italian Junior and Cadet Open in Lignano.
The 15 year-old 15 year-old Oyebode, who has adopted Italy as his country, shone like a millions star at the annual tennis Open.
Oyebode, whose father, Michael was part of the Nigerian coaching crew to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, partnered Matteo Gualdi to beat Czech Republic’s Simon Belik and Tomas Martinko 11-9, 9-11, 1517, 11-9, 11-8 (3-2) to claim the gold in the cadet boys doubles.
Oyebode also paired Matteo Gualdi to overcome Belgium 3-0 in the cadet boys’ team event.
Despite not playing beyond the second round of the singles event in the cadet boys, Oyebode shone like a star for his adopted country in the junior boys singles as he worked his way into the last four of the event where he was beaten in the semi-final by compatriot Antonio Amato.
The bespectacled Oyebode was seeded number three in the cadet boys and he said after making the podium in the boys singles that, “After the bronze in the Junior Boys’ Singles, the first podium in single in my life, I want another medal”. He however added the cadet team and doubles titles to his retinue of laurels at the fiveday championship.
Oyebode has also been included in the Italian team to next month’s Tunisia Junior Open.