by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The 15 year old, who greets every success with a determined vocal response, similar to that of the tennis star, Maria Sharapova, fast became a crowd favourite.

Now she is looking forward to competing in the Liebherr 2017 World Championships in Düsseldorf, play commences on Monday 29th May,

She spoke to Olalekan Okusan, the ITTF-Africa Press Officer

The World Championship is one of the biggest events in table tennis and every player dreams to participate. I was privileged last year to compete at the ITTF African Championships in Agadir, Morocco; this was made possible following recent performances at local and international competitions. I have been selected for the World Championship, I am so excited.

I want to use the tournament to familiarise myself with the big world competition. I will try to play well and especially to see closely the biggest players in the world that I love, like China’s Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen as well as Romania’s Daniela Dodean.

Safa Saidani, who played in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, is the exemplary path for me. I would like to play in the Olympic Games like her and honour my country with international titles like she has done. It is a good for me to still have Safa Saidani in the Tunisian national team to learn more from her.

In Germany I hope to play well, do my best. It will be my first ever World Championship and undoubtedly, my dream is to become World champion and Olympic champion one day.

I grew up hearing about Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike, Egypt’s Nadeen El-Dawlatly and Dina Meshref, as well as highly respected Tunisian players in Africa like Nesrine Belkahia and Olfa Guenni.