Offiong Edem is the first Nigerian woman to win the European Cup Women’s Table Tennis title. It was also the first European championship for her club, ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari.
The 36-year-old table tennis star is Nigeria’s second-ranked player and the world’s 142nd.
According to accounts, the Italian squad won both legs, with a 3-2 victory in the first match and a 3-0 triumph in the second.
However, the Nigerian history-maker bounced back from an opening set defeat to beat Maria Fazekas 3-1 (5-11, 10-12, 7-11, 7-11) in the second leg after she had thrashed the Hungarian 3-0 (6-11, 6-11, 8-11) in the first leg.
“I’m so happy we won the European Cup Women’s Table Tennis title. I’m proud of everyone and I’m so overwhelmed,” Edem said.
“We approached every match with the same level of focus and intensity as we did in the first leg, but this time, we were even better….we had studied them very well and knew how to overcome them.”
Born on December 31, 1986, the professional table tennis player represented Nigeria at the Summer Olympics in 2004, 2012, and 2016. She has also qualified to represent Nigeria at the Summer Olympics in 2020.Offiong Edem holds five gold medals, two silver medals, and one bronze medal from the All-Africa Games singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team competitions in 2007, 2011, and 2015.
