Oshonaike, Omotayo Olympic: Crashes Out, Edem Advances

Multiple Olympic Games participant Funke Oshonaike has been sent packing from the Tokyo 2020 Games in the preliminary round.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 45-year-old Oshonaike lost 1-4 to Juan Liu of the U.S in the women’s table tennis singles.

Oshonaike, who has represented Nigeria at seven Olympic Games, failed to come to the party losing the first three sets to her opponent.

She lost the first set 7-11, the second 3-11 and the third 4-11, before winning the fourth set 13-11 and then losing the fifth 4-11 to crash out of the Games.

Olajide Omotayo debut at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ended early after the Nigerian was beaten by Portugal’s Apolonia Tiago in the first round of the men’s singles of table tennis event.

Omotayo failed to make use of his youthfulness against the ageing Portuguese as the 2019 African Games champion was dominated throughout the encounter.

To exit the tournament, Omotayo fell 7-11, 9-11, 6-11, 5-11.

Omotayo joined Olufunke Oshonaike as the second Nigerian to exit the table tennis event.

Nigeria’s highest ranked women’s table tennis player Edem Offiong has progressed into the second round of women’s singles after recording a convincing lead.

Offiong Edem thrashed Hungarian opponent Dora Madarasz 4-1 in another preliminary round fixture.

Edem came out triumphant after winning the first set 11-8, the second 11-9 and the third 11-9 to complete an amazing 3-0 lead.

Madarasz however looked to bounce back in the fourth set after taking it 11-9, before Edem extinguished any comeback hopes when she dismissed her opponent 11-4 in the fifth set.

July 24, 2021