Whatta girl!

Rizumu Ono hits a flat backhand shot againstNigerianOlufunke Oshonaike in theirmatch during the World Table Tennis
Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany. —TAKKYU REPORT/ BUTTERFLY

The scene was the World Table Tennis Championships one afternoon two months ago in Dusseldorf, Germany. The protagonists: Nigeria’s six-time Olympian and a 12-year-old Filipino-Japanese girl.

Before the match, the odds naturally favored the 41-year-old Olufunke Oshonaike to sweep by Rizumo Ono in their qualification-stage tussle. In the end, however, the owner of 12 medals in the All-Africa Games had to dig deep into her bag of tricks to avoid humiliation.

While Rizumu’s fierce challenge faltered only at the last gasp in a well-applauded six-set thriller, 15-13, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 6-11, 12-10, her tenacity and exuberance endeared her to the German spectators. In one fell swoop, she showed the world her immense potential.

“It was my first world championships and I was so nervous,” says Rizumu, daughter of a Japanese news reporter and his Filipino wife, Sally Lozares. “I played well but still lost. I really hope to do well in the future.”

Before facing off with Oshonaike, Rizumu showed her attacking style and demolished Hansani Kapugeekiyana of Sri Lanka, four sets to love. “I’m aggressive and love to attack,” she says. “That’s the style that I hope will help me become better in this sport.”

Oshonaike paid tribute to her young foe.

“I must admit that I have never been so nervous like this in my life, particularly playing against the young girl who is not even older than my first son who is 14,” Oshonaike told ittf.com. “I was so scared because she is so talented that even before the match, I could not sleep well. I knew that if I don’t beat her I won’t be able to make it out of the group.”

Drawing inspiration from Japan’s top three players—Ai Fukuhara, Mima Ito and Miu Hirano—Rizumu has shown amazing grit to be at the top of her game at a very young age. At three, she was introduced to the sport by her mom, a former mainstay of the Philippine table tennis team, in the family’s home in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo.

Sally says her daughter’s stint in the world championships boosted her confidence several notches, just like the victories she scores in age-group tournaments in Japan, where her performances regularly get prominent coverage in newspapers and television sports programs.

“It’s a good learning experience for my daughter,” Sally says. “If she gets the right kind of support, I’m sure my daughter can help our country win gold medals in international tournaments. She’s already making a name for herself in Japan, as well as in the international arena.”

Currently ranked No. 8 among Japanese junior players, Rizumu counts among her biggest international achievements her victories in the 12-under, 13-under and 17-under categories of the 2014 All Thailand Championships. She was also part of a Japan club team that ruled the tough Hong Kong Elegant Cup last year.

“I want to be like Fukuhara, Ito and Hirano,” says the soft-spoken high school freshman at Okabe Junior High School in Saitama. “I watch them play all the time. I hope to follow in their footsteps.”

Because she has dual citizenship, Rizumu has the option to play for either Japan or the Philippines when she reaches the age of 20. This early, Sally says she would love to see her only child play for the Philippines in the Olympics someday.

Mother and daughter visited Manila recently to pay a call on Chair Butch Ramirez of the Philippine Sports Commission. Accompanied by Jay Omila, chair of the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines, Sally sought Ramirez’s help so that Rizumu could compete in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

“I will adhere to whatever plan the PSC [will draw up] for my daughter and I guarantee that I will dedicate my time and effort to Rizumu’s training,” Sally told Ramirez.

The Onos’ Manila visit came a bit late, however, because the Philippine table tennis federation (Tatap) had already selected the players to vie in the SEA Games. While agreeing that she is a “great discovery,” federation president Ting Ledesma said Rizumu missed throwing her hat into the selection process that Tatap used to form the national team.

Ledesma pledged to include Rizumu, though, in future national team pools for the SEA Games and Asian Games.

Just like any other kid, Rizumu indulges in extracurricular activities to keep her busy and has shown interest in karate, according to her mother. While focused on her studies, Rizumu dreams of becoming a singer-composer someday.

Yet she uses most of her free time to improve her craft. She trains four hours a day from Tuesday to Friday and plays 11 hours every Saturday and Sunday. She takes the day off on Mondays. “That’s how dedicated she is,” says Sally. “She focuses mostly on tactics and match play.”

Rizumu is also a bright prospect for the Youth Olympic Games, although she may have to wait a few years because the YOG is only for athletes 16 to 18 years old, according to Jonne Go, the Philippine chef de mission to the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.

Omila, a sportsman from General Santos City, visited Sally and Rizumu in Japan recently and says the young athlete already possesses the fighting poise and skills that could land her a medal in the SEA Games.

Sally is looking further down the road. She wants her daughter to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a Filipino. “It’s an ambition for both of us,” she says.