Oye Jemiyo dedicates medal to his late brother after win

He took up table tennis in 1996, aged 19, at Eccleshill Sports Centre, learning from renowned coach Hans Soova.

Training at at Nab Wood Sports Centre, Oakbank School and Bradford Girls' Grammar School, he has won many medals for Great Britain over the years in national disabled events.

He is dedicating this medal to his late brother John Chege.

He writes:

‘I have not won a class single gold medal for several years now, but in June this year that drought ended.

I was victorious at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) in Sheffield, where I won a gold medal at the Sheffield Para Table Tennis Open Grand Prix 2024 tournament in class 1-5 singles event.

After a slow start, losing my first game Jack Silberston from Brighton (class 4), I fought my way through the group and won my next match against Bethany Kelf from Norwich (class 2).

I really needed to win my last group match to secure the second spot to progress into the semi-finals. I won my last group match against Tom Hepburn from Devon (class 4) 3-0 to secure a place where a very good friend and team mate Nathan Drayner from Chesterfield (class 1) awaited me.

Oye with his gold medal at the Sheffield Para Table Tennis Open Grand Prix

Oye's long-awaited gold medal

Playing against a friend is always a tough one for me as I continue learning that the person on the other side of the table is my opponent during tournament. Though the result shows I won 3-0, it was a physical and psychological match but the fight was worth a place in the final.

I have been in several finals nationally for several years but not managed to win one. The task ahead seemed even more daunting as I was playing an unknown player in Kevin O'Callaghan from Ireland (class 3) and he was strong favourite to win because he topped his ground, had not lost a match all day and was a higher class than I am.

I stuck to the plan with my coach James Garrod, served well and executed my shots precisely. I won 3-0 and was crowned the Sheffield Para Table Tennis (Class 1-5) Grand Prix Open Tournament Winner 2024.

It has been a very long time coming and I am so grateful to Team GB Pathway coaches for finding me a coach that really suits my game – we get on so well in training. James and I have been working really hard twice a week for the past six weeks. The hard work is already paying dividend and my sincere thanks to Shaun, Matjaz and James for taking me seriously, and believing in my work ethics.

Oye enjoys competitions

Oye pictured taking part in an earlier tournament

I wish to dedicate this gold to my late brother John Chege who passed away suddenly in April 2024. He was my number one supporter, he came to watch me play the last time I was at the same venue competing but I was unable to win the gold at that time.

Thanks go to my equipment sponsor Custom Table Tennis for supplying me the winning gear, my carers for working flexibly with me to allow all my practice, gym, tournament and training possible and my church family at St. Wilfrid's Lidget Green for all the powerful prayers.

Oye is proud of what he has achieved

It has been a rough road to this point since mum died in 2021 and then a dear brother this year. There has been times when comments like "he hasn't got it anymore" from other players has made me think of packing up shop but I've turned such comments round, had my bereavement counselling and with the support of my fiancée, Blessing, and God on my side, I am now fighting for a spot in the GB Elite Squad after the Paralympic games.

The hard work continues, and it is results like this that makes all the very early and very late ungodly hours worthwhile, including all the sweat, daily aches and pains, plus clocking up the miles on the motorway.'