In the history of the African Games, Olufunke Oshonaike is the most successful female table tennis player having won more medals than any other player.

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She was three-time finalist in the women’s singles event of the African Games while she remains the only player to have won the women’s singles title back-to-back in 1999 and 2003.

However, with the emergence of young players like Dina Meshref, Nadeen El-Dawlatly and Edem Offiong, Olufunke Oshonaike started playing second fiddle. But she never gave up as she continued to show deep passion for the sport with her presence in virtually all the continental competitions.

 In most of the competitions, she ensured she made it to the last four but her efforts never fetch her expected laurels.

 Beyond bookmakers’ analysis, Olufunke Oshonaike became the continent champion again and she did it in a surprising fashion in Morocco last October.

As the only female Nigerian player competing at the 2016 ITTF African Championships amidst the array of players from Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, Olufunke Oshonaike in her 40s turned the clock back with an emphatic 4-2 win over defending champion, Dina Meshref of Egypt to emerge as the best female player in the competition.

 Based in Hamburg, Germany with her family, Olufunke Oshonaike is however not happy that the fortune of female players in Nigeria is going down and she decided to organize a clinic for junior players in Nigeria.

 According to Olufunke Oshonaike, the essence of the 10-day camping exercise is to inspire and motivate the players to passionately be committed to the sport.The six-time Olympian believes the gesture will surely give the players hope that with discipline and hardwork, they can reap from their efforts in the sport. “I believe when top players like us organize such programme for the young players, they can be inspired and motivated to take a cue from us. I am hoping to arrive in Lagos, Nigeria on February 24 for the clinic that will begin on February 25 to March 5 at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) Training Centre of the Lagos National Stadium,” she added.Over 20 players made up of 11 girls and nine boys have been shortlisted by NTTF for the 10-day camping exercise.

 

Report by Miyen Akiri