Oshonaike inducted into Olympics table tennis Club 7

Nigerian table tennis legend Funke Oshonaike is officially recognized as a member of the exclusive club of the ping pong game who have competed in seven Olympic Games. Oshonaike was presented with a plaque yesterday to officially mark her induction into the exclusive club, making her the first woman in the world of table tennis […]

Nigerian table tennis legend Funke Oshonaike is officially recognized as a member of the exclusive club of the ping pong game who have competed in seven Olympic Games.

Oshonaike was presented with a plaque yesterday to officially mark her induction into the exclusive club, making her the first woman in the world of table tennis to receive such an honor.

Speaking after receiving her plaque at a brief ceremony in which the other Club 7 inductees Persson, Primorac, Saive, and Toriola were in attendance, Oshonaike hoped the honour would “brighten the hearts of Nigerians.”

“I hope this award for me and my country, as the only girl in the seventh club in the world, and the only woman in Africa to have achieved the dream of representing her country at the Olympics seven times, will brighten the hearts of Nigerians.

“Though I might not have won gold, silver or bronze, I have won what no woman in the world of table tennis has ever won. Thank God for the award – the 7 Club award.

“I’m a proud Nigerian [and I] hope more women will join me,” added the 46-year-old who was 20 when she played her first match for Nigeria at the Atlanta ‘96 Olympics in the women’s doubles, partnering Bose Kaffo in a match against Russia.

In her seventh Olympics in Tokyo, Oshonaike lost out in the first round to Liu Juan of the United States in the women’s singles.