A skin problem turned from an obstacle into an opportunity for Thamia Kganedi, the USSA Table Tennis captain and NWU honours student in Human Movement Science.

Thamia could not play outdoor sports due to a skin condition and had a burning passion to participate in sport to channel her energy into a positive outlet. Her life changed in 2014 when she was introduced to table tennis as an eager Grade 6 learner who noticed the game through a window with her friends at Bopanang Primary School in Monsterlus, Limpopo. They immediately agreed to try the sport. The rest is history.

Thamia is now the captain of the USSA Table Tennis team and one of NWU Mahikeng's brightest sporting stars.

At the 2026 CUCSA (Confederation of University and College Sports Associations) Games held in Botswana, Thamia captained her team to a gold medal in the team event and also won silver in the women's doubles.

"I was raised to believe in God's timing. The CUCSA Games were just out of this world. It surpassed my expectations. Wearing South African colours in another country as an athlete was the best thing," says Thamia, who enjoys watching rugby, tennis and YouTube vlogs in her free time.

According to her, her teammates and the technical team made it easy for her to enjoy the experience.

"I will forever be grateful for being from a Purple Army university. My coach, Kealeboga Mojafi and NWU Mahikeng sport officer (Naledi Molanoka) supported my dreams and helped make them come true."

"I have developed mental toughness and confidence, and have been rewarded financially for my efforts. The sport has helped me grow tremendously. Table tennis is a mental game."

Humble beginnings in Monsterlus to a monster appetite for table tennis

Thamia grew up in Monsterlus, Limpopo, in the Sekhukhune District. She completed her NSC at A.M. Mashego Secondary School in 2020 and obtained a Bachelor's pass in July 2021.

She got her first break as part of the Limpopo Schools Table Tennis squad in 2014, which competed at the national championships. This made her grandmother proud and reinforced Thamia's belief that the sport had brought joy following the sorrow of losing her mother at an early age.

Thamia arrived at the NWU Mahikeng campus looking to further her table tennis career but first had to contend with the fact that table tennis was only a recreational sport and had yet to become a competitive code. The wheels started turning when Thamia became the table tennis chairperson in 2023 and pushed for the sport to become competitive. Her hard work paid off as table tennis was named the Most Improved Recreation Sporting Code of the Year.
In 2024, NWU Mahikeng sent its first teams to the USSA Nationals, with the women's team finishing fourth overall. Since then, things have continued to improve for table tennis on the campus.

"Table tennis held me up, healed me and took me places. It gave me a reason to hold on even when my background didn't allow me to dream big," explains Thamia.

In the future, this friendly and fun-loving NWU student hopes to become part of the top four of the South African senior women's table tennis team.

"I have big dreams. Competition is high, but watch this space!"

Thamia Kganedi