Monday 26 July 2021

Oshonaike inducted into Olympics’ 7th club

 


By Akeem Lawal

NIGERIA’S table tennis star Funke Oshonaike is in cloud nine following her induction into the prestigious Olympics’ 7th Club of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports that the 45-year-old was recognized after making her seventh appearance at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan, the 1st woman in history to receive such honour. 


The Nigeria’s table tennis legend crashed out of the Tokyo 2020 sooner than expected after losing 4-1 (7-11.3-11.4-11.13-11,4-11) to Juan Liu of the United States in the preliminary stage of the Women’s singles at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Saturday.



ITTF President Thomas Weikert presented the award to Oshonaike in the presence of other seven-time Olympians including her compatriot Segun Toriola, the coach of the Nigeria table tennis team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Others present include Jean-Michel Saive of Belgium, Jörgen Persson of Sweden and Zoran Primorac of Croatia. 



Oshonaike, who was grateful with the award, posted on her Facebook page saying: “Though I might not have won Gold, silver, and bronze! But what I got is what another woman has not gotten!
The first 7 times Olympian in Africa , The first woman in TT Woman in the world 💪🏼
Dreams do come true🙏🏽
I am a living Testimony🙏🏽
Welcome Funke to the 7 club Award🏆🥇🎖🎗🌟🌟
Thank you Nigeria ❤️
Thank you my fans all over the world ❤️
Thanks to my family and friends❤️
Above all, thank to my almighty creator ❤️
#Olympics #olympian #legend #Tokyo2020 #dreamscometrue #testimony #rolemodel,” said Oshonaike, who made her debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games.


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