Fifteen-year-old Fadwa Garci was the toast of Tunisian fans when she conquered two Egyptian stars to emerge as the girls’ cadet champion at the 2017 ITTF African Junior & Cadet Championship held in Tunis.
Her powerful strokes and shots made her a threat to her opponents while her unique celebration after winning point distinguished her out.
However, the starlet will be part of the Tunisian team to the 2017 ITTF World Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany from May 29 to June 5 and she is eagerly looking forward to meet and rub shoulders with amidst gathering of stars.
“World Championship is one of the biggest event in table tennis and every player dreams to participate in. I was privileged last year to compete at the ITTF African Championship in Agadir, Morocco and this was made possible following my recent performance at local and international stages. Again, I was opportune to be selected for the World Championship and I am so excited as I am really looking forward to the championships in Germany,” she said.
Seeing and watching some of her idols remain Fadwa Garci’s priorities in Germany. “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,” she added.
For Fadwa Garci, her compatriot and Olympian – Safa Saidani has been an inspiration to her, she however said: “Safa Saidani’s career is an exemplary path for me. I would like to play in the Olympic Games like her and honour my country with international titles like she did. It is a chance for me to still have Safa Saidani in the Tunisian national team to learn more from her.”
On her target in Germany, she said: “I would like to play well, do my best, and remember that it will be my first ever Senior World Championship and undoubtedly, my dream is to become world champion and Olympic champion on day.”
Recalling her growing up playing table tennis, she said: “I grew up hearing about Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike, Egypt’s duo of Nadeen El-Dawlatly and Dina Meshref, as well as highly respected Tunisian players in Africa like Nesrine Belkahia and Olfa Guenni.”
Tunisian teenager eager to dazzle in Germany
