Nigeria’s Funke Oshonaike Shines At Tischtennis Nordmasters In Germany

Germany-based Nigerian professional table tennis star, Olufunke Oshonaike was outstanding playing at this year’s Tischtennis Nordmasters in Germany on Sunday.

The one-day event is an invitational competition in Northern Germany which features some ping pongers in the region with some Danish players in attendance.

Oshonaike, who had represented Team Nigeria in seventh Olympic Games, having previously qualified and participated in Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, said that the Tischtennis Nordmasters which featured in on Sunday “is the most stressful competition for me because you only play on Sunday and you must play five players in a group to qualify to quarter-finals, then semi, then if you’re still strong enough, then finals.

“That’s to say all together you must play eight matches in a day, which is not done at WTT or any other international competition to win the trophy or be the runner-up.

“This year’s own means a lot to me because I never thought I could be strong enough to get to the finals because of all the strong young players who were present at the event, and because it has not been easy for me combining my education now with training. I am now at the hospital doing my practical and I have to be there till November. I love taking care of patients but at the end of it, it has not been easy for me. But because of how discipline, dedication and never give-up spirit that I was brought up with, I still manage to push myself till I could do no more,” said Oshonaike, who attended Community Primary School, now known as Ola-Olu Primary School, Agunbiade, Somolu, Lagos.

Continuing, she said: “So I am proud to tell you all that I came second after playing eight matches today. It was a stressful day for me! I had to drive one hour to the venue today and started 9 a.m. and we finished at 17:00… what a marathon competition!!! But it worth all the pain and I am happy ❤❤.”