Table Tennis: Olufunke Scrape Into Last 8 Of Lagos Open, Cecilia Out

Top seed Dina Meshref sailed into the quarter-finals of the Women’s Singles event on Day 2 of the 2015 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos Open Tour but it was not all plain sailing for Olufunke Oshonaike.

Nigeria’s second seed Oshonaike put up a late match rally to surge clear of Egypt’s Fatma Alaa 11-2, 9-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 on Wednesday.

“There was a great deal of tension playing in front of our fans and I didn’t want to disappoint them”, Olufunke is quoted as saying by ITTF-Africa.

Cecilia Akpan Eliminated in Four Straight Games By Portugal’s Shao Jieni. Image: NTTF.
Cecilia Akpan Eliminated in Four Straight Games By Portugal’s Shao Jieni. Image: NTTF.

“Also, the match was tense because my opponent is a good player; I didn’t really play well, it was my experience that gave me the victory.”

Egypt’s Dina Mesheref sealed an 11-5, 11-8, 11-4, 11-8 win over home favourite Halima Hussein.

Nigeria’s Offiong Edem also needed four straight Games to account for compatriot Aminat Fashola 11-9, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4.

Portugal’s Shao Jieni came up with the major upset of Day 2 after a stunning 11-9, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 win over 2013- then Lagos International Classic- winner, Cecilia Akpan.

Egypt’s Yousra Helmy saw off compatriot Farah Abdel-Aziz 12-10, 11-7, 11-8, 11-2. Janet Effiom also accounted for fellow countrywoman Funmilola Ajala 11-9, 11-5, 11-5, 14-12.

Top half Women’s Singles last 8 draw (Thursday)

Dina Meshref vs. Yousra Helmy

Olufunke Oshonaike vs. Jaet Offiong

Lower half Women’s Singles last 8 draw (Thursday)

Offiong Edem vs. Galila Nasser

Irina Ermakova vs. Shao Jieni

Russia No. 251-ranked Irina Ermakova held off Nigeria’s Ajoke Ojomu’s early fightback to seal an 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-5.

Egypt’s Galila Nassar expended the whole of her best-of-seven games face off with Nigeria’s Esther Oribamise to seal a 14-12, 7-11, 7-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9, 11-8 and reach the last 8.