The biggest sporting event in the globe, the Olympic Games, officially kicked off last week, and Nigerian athletes have participated in some events already.
Read more about Sports
Nigerian table tennis queen, Funke Oshoanike, bade the Olympics goodbye after losing in the preliminary stage of the women’s singles to United States’ Juan Liu 1-4(7-11.3-11.4-11.13-11,4-11).
The 45-year-old Nigerian athlete has featured in seven Olympics and when quizzed about the possibility of making it eight Olympic outings, she said:
“Paris 2024? I’m going to be there but as a spectator…I never gave up, I’m here today and I’m so happy that I could play because I was not expecting it. I just lost, I’m supposed to be kind of sad, but I’m happy that we can be here at the Olympics. This is the spirit of the Games, you lose or win but we are all Olympians.”
@makingofchamps – Instagram
Following her exploits on the table, Oshoanike made history as the first woman to be inducted into the prestigious 7th club of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The 7th club is only meant for players that have featured in seven Olympic Games. Oshoanike now joins fellow Nigerian, Segun Toriola, as the only Africans to have made it into the 7th club.
In the men’s singles event, Olajide Omotayo, despite showing flashes of brilliance, lost to Portugal’s Tiago Apolonia 0-4 (7-11,9-11,6-11,5-11), in straight games of the men’s Table Tennis event.
@makingofchamps – Instagram
Nigeria’s only win at the Olympics so far was recorded by the country’s highest-ranked women’s table tennis player, Offiong Edem. A convincing 4-1 (11-8,11-9,11-9,9-11,11-4) win over Hungary’s Dora Madarasz in the preliminary round, set the Nigerian up against USA’s Lily Zhang whom she lost to in straight set, in the second round.
@makingofchamps – Instagram
Uche Eke also made history as the first Nigerian Gymnast to represent the country at the Olympics. Eke who dyed his hair green in commemoration of his feat, finished with a total score of 74.765, placing him 36th overall in the conclusion of Subdivision 2.
Sign up to the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter
In the rowing event, Esther Toko in a time of 9:07.54s finished fourth and could not make it into the quartet finals, but she applied more strength in the heat 1 of women’s Singles Sculls Semifinal E/F, finishing third in 9:07.70s to qualify for the E final.
@makingofchamps – Instagram
The duo of Godwin Olofua and Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori at the Badminton Sport Plaza in Tokyo lost to Japan’s Hiroyuki Endo and Yuta Watanabe 2-0 (21-2, 21-7) in the Group play stage of the Men’s Doubles.
@makingofchamps – Instagram
They would go on to lose to the Danish duo of Kim Astrup and Skaarup Rasmussen 2 – 0 (21-7, 21-10), to wrap up Nigeria’s action in the men’s Doubles. In the women’s Singles of Badminton, Dorcas Adesokan lost to her Spanish opponent, Clara Azurmendi, 2-0 (21-10, 21-2), in her first Group match.
@makingofchamps – Instagram
Elizabeth Anyanacho in the women’s 67kg Taekwondo event lost to Turkey’s Nur Tartar (12-7) in their Round 16 fight.
@makingofchamps – Instagram
The Nigerian national men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, lost their first Group game of the Olympics to the Australian national team, 84-65 points. They will look forward to their next game on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, against Germany who also lost their first game against Italy.
@makingofchamps – Instagram
The action continued in the Nigeria Professional Football League as Akwa United edged closer to being crowned league champions with an impressive 3-0 win against Jigawa Golden Stars in Uyo on Sunday, July 25, 2021. Strikes from Ubong Friday, Charles Atshimene and Wisdom Fernando gifted the Uyo-based side all three points.
I am a Lion, I love to hit heights that seem impossible so I can motivate others and prove doubters wrong. For me, impossible is nothing. I'm open to learning and I love to read, travel and meet new faces.
Team Nigeria finished the 2024 Paralympic Games in France with a total of seven medals after para-powerlifter Folashade Oluwafemiayo created a new world record by lifting 167 kg in the women’s 86 kg category on Sunday, September 9, 2024, to win gold. Read more about Sports The Nigerian beat her world record after outlifting … Continue reading Para-Powerlifter Folashade Oluwafemiayo Sets New World Record
Nigerian Paralympic powerlifting athlete Onyinyechi Mark has set a new world record by lifting an impressive 150 kg in the 61 kg category on Friday, September 6, 2024. Read more about Sports Onyinyechi Mark, 23, out-lifted opponents in the La Chapelle Arena, such as China’s Cui Jianjin, who won silver after lifting 140 kg, … Continue reading Onyinyechi Mark Sets New World Record, Wins Nigeria’s First 2024 Paralympic Gold
The Nigerian women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, ended their historic outing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France after an 88-74 point loss to the United States in the quarterfinals. Read more about Sports Nigeria entered the game after making history as the first African basketball team (male and female) to advance to … Continue reading Gallant D’Tigress Bow Out of the Olympics
D’TigressNigeria women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, made history by qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games for the first time, after beating Canada 79-70 in their final group game at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium on Sunday, August 4, 2024. Read more about Sports Rena Wakama’s ladies went into the game as underdogs against a … Continue reading D’Tigress Make Olympic History After Beating Canada
