The 12-year-old prodigy has been named in Nigeria’s U-15 girls team alongside Fatimoh Ahmed, Chinenye Okafor, and Aziza Sezuo. Together, they will compete against counterparts from 10 other African nations, including table tennis powerhouses like Egypt, Tunisia, Uganda, and South Africa.
Mariam is no stranger to competitive play. Earlier this week, she made her debut at the WTT Contender Lagos, where she impressed spectators by defeating Benin’s Amady Stacy in Group 15. Although an earlier loss to Nigeria’s Abosede Odusanya meant she did not advance to the main draw, her performance signaled strong potential and growing maturity on the court.
Under the guidance of her mother and coach, Ganiyat Aruna, Mariam has steadily risen through the junior ranks. Her international credentials were further bolstered earlier this year at the João Monteiro Table Tennis Tournament in Portugal, where she finished second in the U-15 category. It was a proud moment for the Aruna family, with her siblings also making podium appearances—Aruna Junior claiming silver in the U-11 category and Amirah Aruna finishing third, marking her first-ever trophy in the sport.
As the ITTF Africa Youth Championships approach, all eyes will be on the young Aruna, who is carrying not only the hopes of a nation but also a growing legacy in Nigerian table tennis.