’Tosin Oluwalowo
Nigeria’s women team have failed to qualify for the tennis event of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, after they lost 3-0 to Poland in the Round of 32 of the 2020 ITTF World Team Qualification Tournament.
Funke Oshonaike and Janet Effiom lost the team event 11-8, 11-1, 11-8 to Natalia Partyka and
Natalia Bajor, while Qian Li defeated Offiong Edem 9-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-9.
In the third match Effiom also lost 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 to Natalia Bajor to complete a 3-0 rout.
The loss meant the Nigerian women would have to qualify for the Olympics as single players.
Veteran Oshonaike had been looking forward to making it to the 2020 Olympics for the seventh time.
An appearance at the Tokyo Olympics would make Oshonaike the first African woman to participate in seven Olympics.
Nigeria had lost the continental sole ticket for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after losing to Egypt at last year’s African Games in Morocco.
Meanwhile, the men’s team will play Poland in the Round of 32 on Thursday (today).
In the men’s team are Quadri Aruna, Segun Toriola, Bode Abiodun and Omotayo Olajide.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]