OYE Jemiyo, who has strong links with Oakbank Table Tennis Club, has taken a step closer to his dream of playing in next year’s Paralympic Games in Rio by winning two gold medals at a national tournament.

Oye, a Class-Two wheelchair player who also used to practice at Nab Wood Sports Centre, not only won the singles event, but also the doubles in the SportAble National Grand Prix in Derby.

This double added to his medal haul for this year following a bronze in an international tournament in Eger, Hungary, and Oye not only retained his doubles title at the national event but improved on his singles bronze.

Oye, who receives some financial backing from a partnership between Bradford Council and SportsAid to help towards costs associated with training and competing at elite level, has moved four places up the world rankings from last year to 51, which he believes is a step in the right direction towards Rio.

A proud Oye said: ‘”It was so amazing for me because not only has it been a very long time since I last won a gold, but I actually won two gold medals and I played really well.”

Set up in 2007, The SportsAid programme is a unique partnership between City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and SportsAid, which identifies and provides financial support for emerging, talented athletes.

The programme, which is the first of its kind, has five key elements and aims to provide a package of support to young emerging athletes in Bradford to help them achieve their full potential, inspire others around them to take up sport, and put Bradford on the map as a centre for sporting excellence.

The partnership now boasts 57 individual athlete awards, equating to £65,100 of joint funding for emerging Bradford talent.

Despite the help Oye gets from SportsAid to achieve his dream of competing in the Paralympics, Oye is seeking further financial assistance from companies, individuals and charitable organisations to fund his international qualification events.

Anybody who wishes to join him on ‘The Road 2 Rio’ and follow his progress can do so at http://www.road-2-rio.com or visit the Facebook page The-Road2-Rio.