OYE, MY JOURNEY TO LA2028

I AM…

a local lad to Bradford: Active Para Table Tennis player with a disability. Played in Bradford league, Keighley league and Wakefield league, currently playing in Sheffield league. I attend Bowling pool & gym twice a week for fitness and I play Table Tennis four times a week. Engaged to Blessing, and we are blessed with a son. My name is Abisoye Jemiyo, I am called and known as ‘Oye’ by all.

MY PASSION AND MY GOAL

Playing Table Tennis is my passion: I live and breathe it with total commitment.

I strive vigorously, professionally and diligently to achieve my goal.

My goal is to be selected for the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, USA in 2028 to represent my country Great Britain (GB).

REACHING MY GOAL

Receiving one-to-one coaching twice a week: This will be of utmost benefit to my game in fine-tuning individual aspects and spending quality time in perfecting my style of play.

Competing at national and international tournaments: This will improve my national and international ranking positions, putting me into more and more match play situations to build my confidence and study my rival’s way of play. Attaining and maintaining a high ranking position at international level is one of the ways athletes are selected for the Paralympic Games.

PATHWAY TO MY GOAL

ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE

Event: British Para Table Tennis National Championships, EIS, England – Individual Representation (November 2024).

Result: Bronze in Class 2 Singles. Bronze in Wheelchair Open Doubles.

Event: Sheffield Para Open Grand Prix Tournament, EIS, England – Individual Representation (October 2024).

Result: Gold in Class 1 – 3 Singles. Bronze in Open Singles.

Event: Sheffield Para Open Grand Prix Tournament, EIS, England – Individual Representation (July 2024).

Result: Gold in Class 1 – 5 Singles.

Event: Sheffield Para Open Grand Prix Tournament, EIS, England – Individual Representation (April 2024).

Result: Bronze in Class 2 – 5 Singles. Silver in Wheelchair Open Doubles.

VOLUNTARY COMMITMENTS

I am actively involved within my community, supporting various establishments, companies, voluntary organisations, and charities, as a way of passing on my life experiences, offering my knowledge and skills in making a positive difference in our society. Here are some of the places I am currently involved with and my role within:

o Peacemakers International Voluntary Organisation (Bradford) – Chairman.

o Bradford Community Payroll & Accounts – Director.

o Yorkshire Air Ambulance – Fundraiser (Table Tennis Fun-Athons).

o St. Wilfrid’s Church Lidget Green, Bradford – Leader/Mentor/Advocate.

o Bowling Highfield Medical Practice – Patient Participation Group member.

WHY I NEED YOUR HELP

As I am currently working my way back into the British Para Table Tennis Performance Squad, I do not receive any financial assistance towards any of my plans, no sponsorship deals for my equipment, no access to one-to-one coaching, sport psychologist, personal trainer and nutritionist. To date, I have relied on my own limited resources, which are just my disability benefits, to purchase all the services and equipment that I need, and my finances are really stretched to the limit now with the cost of living, which is more felt by people with disability due to extra costs.

This is possibly my last chance to qualify for a Paralympic Games so I want to seize every single possible opportunity, take full advantage of all I can access to maximize my chance of qualification, then I can say I have given it my all without any regret.

I started working with a new coach at the beginning of June 2024 on a one-to-one basis twice a week. We won the gold medal that has eluded me for the past 4 years in my class singles after working together for 5 weeks. This new partnership has really proved itself, we understand each other, get on well together off and on the table, and we share similar views in our insight of Para Table Tennis. This is the most significant aspect and the most costly part of my plan, for which I am seeking help.

There are many elements in an athlete’s life that lead to podium and medal potential. For me, being able to maintain the consistency of my one-to-one training with my coach will definitely fine-tune my skills and increase my consistency on the table. The short successful history that I have with my coach really shows that we are destined for greater heights. Tomorrow begins today! The work for LA2028 begins now.

I am kindly seeking your financial support to make ‘My Journey to LA2028’ come true.

OVERCOME

I have scaled so many hurdles in my life since contracting polio at the age of 2 years and a month. I have been through several surgical operations that have led me to a few near-death experiences in my 47 years living with my disability. Being told by my consultant surgeon that I will not be able to play Table Tennis again after he performed my shoulder replacement operation in 2019 was somewhat my motivating factor to defy all odds, and I thank God I continue to deliver medals. My mother’s death in 2021 was the biggest blow of all for me, it really affected me physically and psychologically, and I will always miss my sweet mother. I will forever be grateful to God that I was able to give my mother a token of the love and care she devoted to me all my life during the final 8 months of her life that we were blessed with from when she was told she only had weeks to live.

BREAKDOWN OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT REQUIRED/HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE SPENT

1-2-1 Coaching

£50 for 2 hour session x 2 sessions a week = £100/week.

£100 x 50 weeks = £5000.00/Year.

Hiring of Table

£10 for 2 hour session x 2 days a week = £20/week.

£20 x 50 weeks = £1000.00/Year.

Transportation (Diesel)

£10 (Bradford to Normanton) return per day x 2 days a week = £20/week.

£20 x 50 weeks = £1000.00/Year.

Rubbers: Xiom Vega Europe DF

(Red & Black)

£36 x 2 = £72 every 3 monthly.

£72 x 4 quarters in a year = £288.00/Year.

Blade: Woodnut Individual/Tailor made specification

£130 every 3 monthly.

£130 x 4 quarters in a year = £520.00/Year.

Fitness: Gym membership

£13.75/month x 11 months = £151.23/Year.

Fitness: Personal Trainer

£40 per session/week x 50 weeks = £2000/Year.

£2000 per year.

GRAND TOTAL PER YEAR = £9959.23

I am absorbing all other transportation costs for attending GB Pathway Training Camps, tournaments, league matches, gym and personal trainer sessions.

COMPLIMENT & REWARD

As my token way of expressing my gratitude to you for your financial support, I will adopt and embrace the role of an Ambassador to your organisation. I will be willing to wear your logo on all my Table Tennis shirts, I will promote your products and services at every available opportunity, your organisation’s name will feature in all my publicity articles in the newspapers and social media, and I will be happy to visit your organisation to offer motivational talks about my journey and how I am progressing, with the possibility of organising a fun Table Tennis session with your staff.

APPRECIATION

My progress, commitment and determination to achieve my overall goal can be verified and sanctioned by my coaches, Table Tennis colleagues, friends, physiotherapist, and family - they all believe in me just as much as I believe in myself.

I have overcome many obstacles to achieve my successes to date, still playing Table Tennis and still winning medals at a high level is not to be frowned upon and I am sure you will agree with me that success does not happen overnight, it takes hard work and determination. I am committed and confident in achieving my goal together with the people who are working with me to make my dreams come true; I sincerely hope you will be joining in on the journey with me.

For additional information on my journey so far, click on the link below which will take you to my recent article in our local newspaper.

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/24498549.oye-jemiyo-dedicates-medal-late-brother-win/

Kindly donate as you possibly can, do share to spread the word. I want to keep doing what I love doing which is playing Table Tennis, I want to keep the momentum of my winning streak and progress going, and I want to achieve my lifetime dream of representing GB at a Paralympic Games, 2028 is my year to do just that with your help and support.