Tokyo Olympics: Four Nigerians crash out on Day 1 — but Offiong pulls through

It was not the most desirous opening day for Nigerians at the Tokyo Olympics, as four athletes bowed out in the first 24 hours. 

However, there’s a silver lining to the gloomy cloud, courtesy of the brilliance of Offiong Edem who secured a place in the second round of the women’s singles at the table tennis event.

Offiong saw off Hungary’s Dora Madarasz with an emphatic performance to clean the first three sets (11-8, 11-9, 11-9).

Although the Hungarian fought back to take the fourth set, the Calabar-born player was able to seal the match in the fifth to book a face-off with Zhang Lily of the US in the next round.

Conversely, Funke Oshonaike succumbed to the domination of Juan Liu, who won 4-1.

Liu took the first three sets (11-7, 11-3, 11-4) before Oshonaike hinted a spark of resistance to win the fourth in a tie-break 13-11.

However, the resurgence was quenched by a fired-up Liu, who snatched the fourth set, and consequently, the match and the qualification into the first round.

In a similar development, Omotayo Olajide lost four straight sets to Portugal’s Apolonia Tiago in the first round of the men’s singles at the table tennis event.

The loss ends the journey of the 26-year-old Olympics debutant.

In badminton, the duo of Olofua Godwin and Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori lost their opening games at the men’s doubles event.

They were beaten 2-0 (21-2 21-13) by Japan’s Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe.

In gymnastics, Uche Eke became the first gymnast to represent Nigeria at the Olympics.

However, his dreams were cut short as he finished 58th overall in the men’s all-round artistic gymnastics event with a total score of 74.765.

Finally, in rowing, Esther Toko crashed out as she finished fourth in the women’s single repechage 2, clocking 9:07.54.