BREAKING BOUNDARIES - HOW PARA TABLE TENNIS TRANSFORMED MY LIFE
Welcome to the second feature in our ‘Breaking Boundaries’ series, where we hope to inspire, educate, and push the boundaries for those living with disabilities.
This time, we met the amazing Abisoye Jemiyo (otherwise known as Oye) who told us his powerful story and how his passion for para table tennis has led him on a fulfilling and exciting journey over the years.
After being diagnosed with Polio at the age of 2, Oye underwent many operations, originally in Nigeria, but in 1980 when Oye was 5, he and his family started making a twice-yearly trip to the UK to access international medical treatment. Here, Oye was also provided with specialist healthcare equipment including callipers and a wheelchair.
In 1996, Oye underwent another spinal surgery at Pinderfields hospital, and this is where his journey into para table tennis began. Whilst training in the gym at Pinderfields as part of his rehabilitation programme, he met the Yorkshire para table tennis team. Since then, he hasn’t looked back, playing at a professional level since 1998.
When we walked away from filming this feature, we genuinely left with an overwhelming feeling of positivity, gratitude, and an eagerness to share this story with as many people as possible! Oye’s resilience and positive outlook on life is something we can all learn from!
Head to our YouTube channel now to watch Oye in action and hear his inspiring story in full - https://youtu.be/IzcKsvigBCU
To find out how you can get involved with para table tennis, head to https://www.britishparatabletennis.com