NSF 2018: Lagos Rookie Player Stops Oshonaike In Table Tennis Quarter Finals

A Lagos State rookie player, Nimota Aregbesola, who caused a major upset in the ongoing 19th National Sports Festival has revealed her excitement stopping African star player, Funke Oshonaike in the quarter final of the women’s singles of table tennis event on Monday. 

Aregbesola, a product of Lagos State grassroots developmental programme in sports was too much for her experienced opponent, Oshonaike who is representing Akwa Ibom state in the festival. Aregbesola won the quarter finals match 4-3 to qualify for the semi finals.

Pundits have given the match to Oshonaike, whose exploits in the ping pong trade have taken her to seventh Olympic Games.

Aregbesola, who hails from Ikorodu in Lagos, told PM EXPRESS after the pulsating match that she hopes she  wouldn’t wake up from the dream.

“I can believe that I won this match. Am I dreaming? I never thought I could beat her when we started the game.

«The joy in me knows no bounds because beating a star player like Funke Oshonaike at this stage of my table tennis career is a big achievement which I will savour for a long time to come.

“Funke Oshonaike is a player I look up to playing someday with but not  to the extent of beating her. I must confess, it’s just like a dream for me,” said Aregbesola, runner up in the 2018 Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship in Lagos.

Aregbesola gave kudos to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for his support for sports in Lagos.

Reacting to her defeat by a rookie player in the sports festival, Oshonaike who has representing Nigeria at the Olympics and the All African Games dismissed the notion that she is too old to compete at the National Sports Festival.

“Nobody can tell me which competition to compete in as long as my body is still active to play. People were saying why did I come for the festival? Let me say that I enjoy playing at the festival and it’s not a big deal that I lost out in the quarter finals . This is a game where a winner must emerge.

“I’m happy to be an inspiration to the younger ones .I feel fulfilled in this game and won’t bother what the critics are saying, ” she said.

Oshonaike and another senior player, Segun Toriola, who is also representing Akwa Ibom state were beaten in the mixed doubles event on Sunday.