She played using only her right hand!She lost the other in an accident in 2014. But 14-year-old Aisha Raji’s performance at the SouthWest Games 2025 stole the hearts of many. Indeed, she is a symbol of hope and resilience
At just 14, Aishat Raji, from Ogun State, walked onto the courts of the SouthWest Games 2025 with a racket, and a narrative of unyielding courage. With her left hand amputated after a tragic accident in 2014, Aishat played using only her right hand—and still clinched the silver medal.
A standout discovery from the much-talked about Southwest Games 2025, she personifies everything the Southwest Games was designed to celebrate: tenacity, innocence, passion, and boundless potential.
She did not allow her physical challenge to define her limits—instead, she rose beyond them, chasing greatness with each swing of her racket. The Southwest Games gave her the stage, and she lit it up with grace, grit, and glory.
Aishat Raji is no ordinary athlete—she is a symbol of hope, resilience, and what is possible when raw talent is nurtured and given room to soar.
This is what the tournament is all about: discovering and projecting the future stars of the region—and of our nation. Yes—nurturing brilliance, defying odds, and projecting stars like Aishat into the nation’s skies.
Here’s to Aishat. Here’s to dreams. Here’s to never letting go of your racket, no matter what life takes from you.