At just 15 years old, Kiishi Adekola has already made her mark on Scottish table tennis.
A national champion and senior Scotland international, she's now taking another exciting step towards her Olympic ambitions, moving to Sheffield to train full-time.
It's a big moment for Kiishi, whose journey at Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV) began when she was just eight years old.
Where it all began
First introduced to table tennis by her dad, Kiishi soon discovered a love for the sport at the Aberdeen Table Tennis Academy.
What started as a hobby quickly became a passion. Over the years, ASV became a second home, where she spent countless hours training, developing her skills and building friendships along the way.
Reflecting on the encouragement of her coaches, Kiishi says: "They really wanted to see me grow as a person and just made me love the sport."
Seven years of hard work and success
Kiishi's dedication has brought an impressive run of achievements, competing and winning titles both at home and internationally.
Some of her recent highlights include:
- 2025: U15 and U19 champion at the West of Scotland Open.
- 2025: Competed at the European Youth Championships in the Czech Republic.
- 2025: U15 singles and doubles champion at the Home Nations International in Dublin.
- 2026: Junior Girls Scottish National Champion and Junior National Cup winner.
- July 2026: Senior Scotland international debut at the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in New Delhi, alongside fellow Academy player Maja Wojcicka.
More than just table tennis
While Kiishi has plenty of achievements to celebrate, it's the friendships, experiences and people she's met along the way that have made her time at ASV so special.
"I feel like table tennis is a sport where you can build a really good community. I've made really good friends over the years. We get to travel to tournaments together, travel across the country and just build lots of memories."
From her fellow players and coaches to the Strength and Conditioning team who supported her weekly in the gym, Kiishi has built lasting relationships with people across ASV.
"Being at ASV for so long has helped me build strong relationships with people, from the S&C staff to my coaches and even the people letting you in in the morning if you forget your pass. It's been a really good community."
Alongside the encouragement of those around her, Kiishi has also benefited from funding through the Dr Hellen Reith Trust, managed by ASV, which helped her attend international tournaments and training camps during her development.
"I got funding from ASV which allowed me to play tournaments abroad and go to training camps, which got me noticed."
And as she begins her next chapter, it's the people she's got to know over the years that she'll miss most.
"I'll really miss ASV because the people I've met here over the years have really built up my confidence. They've always been really nice and comforting, and people I've always turned to."
What's next for Kiishi?
In September 2026, Kiishi moved to Sheffield to train full-time, taking another significant step towards her dream of competing at the Olympic Games.
At just 15, it's a big commitment. She's also transitioned to online schooling to balance her education with training.
"Thanks to ASV and all my coaches, I've been given the opportunity to go down to Sheffield and train full-time with the GB squad."
We'll be cheering you on, Kiishi!
Kiishi has become a familiar face to so many at ASV over the years, from her coaches and fellow players to staff and members who've watched her progress.
We're incredibly proud of everything she's achieved through her hard work and determination, and we're glad to have been part of her journey.
We'll miss seeing you around ASV, Kiishi, but we know there are plenty of people here who'll be cheering you on from Aberdeen!
