Oshodi tips Oshonaike for 7th Olympic appearance

By Akeem Lawal

President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Enitan-Oshodi says African Table Tennis champion, Funke Oshonaike has all it takes to make her seventh appearance at the Olympics by representing the country once again at Tokyo 2020 Games.

Oshodi made the comments during the final of the just concluded Funke Oshonaike Cadet/Junior Top 16 Table Tennis Tournament and clinic sponsored by the six-time Olympian at the table tennis hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos last weekend.

For more than 20 years, Oshonaike has ruled the Nigerian table tennis scene and has grown to become the most-decorated female table tennis player in the country and on the continent of Africa.

Oshonaike, who made her debut at the Atlanta Games in 1996, will no doubt be working towards her seventh Olympic appearance to equal the record set by another veteran player, Segun Toriola at the last edition held in Rio, Brazil.

The NTTF boss has now charged the veteran Nigeria table tennis player to stay focused and return to training ahead of the African championships.

“Funke has been around the circuit for many years but very importantly she keeps on proving to us that nothing is impossible and that is the most important message for all the athletes.

“For Funke, the greatest achievement in the sport last year was the big comeback in Morocco to take the Africa singles title again. It was a great outing in Morocco. To comeback against Egypt’s Dina Meshref, unbeaten by a Nigerian player before was fantastic by Funke. 

“I've been very lucky as the President of the Table Tennis Federation to be there when we won the team bronze at the Commonwealth Games, the most important medal to us, the African male teams' gold medal and Aruna Quadri's quarter final performance at the Olympics.

“The lesson is not over because I know deep down, there is one more to go. We are going to equal Segun Toriola in the Olympics, if he doesn't go to 8th himself. So Funke has a lot to work towards now. I know she's had a good time with the kids now she would go back in training because the African championship comes up later in the year. I believe Funke can go to her 7th Olympics. Nigeria has two most talented female players on the continent, Edem Ofiong and Funke Oshonaike,” Oshodi said.