Oshonaike makes history, qualifies for 7th Olympics

Olufunke Oshonaike, Nigeria’s table tennis player, has booked her place in the 2020 Olympic Games scheduled for Tokyo in the summer.

Oshonaike also became the first African female athletes that will compete in seven Olympic Games in Japan.

The 44-year-old tennis player defeated Sarah Hanffou of Cameroon 4-1 in the second match of the final group games of the Olympic qualifying tournament in Tunis, Tunisia, on Friday.

The six-time Olympian had earlier beaten Lynda Loghraibi 4-1 before her final clash against the Cameroonian.

Oshonaike first featured at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, before making subsequent appearances at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Edem Offiong, her compatriot, also qualified for Tokyo 2020 after defeating Fadwa Garcí 4-3 (13-11,11-1,9-11,11-9,5-11,8-11,11-6).