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Segun Toriola and Olufunke Oshonaike are on course to make history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Toriola, who holds the record as the first African to feature in seven Olympics, is hopeful of an eighth appearance.
He is currently fighting for a slot at the ongoing African Singles and Mixed Doubles Olympics qualifiers in Tunisia.
On the other hand, Oshonaike is aiming to become the first African female to feature in seven editions of the Games in the qualifiers which began on Thursday.
In an interview with ittf.com, the 46-year-old Toriola spoke on his first-ever experience at the Games.
“When I went to my first Olympic Games at Barcelona in 1992, I was a teenager and I did not really appreciate it then because I was young.
“However, it is an experience I will not forget in a hurry because it allows you to meet top athletes in various sports across the world,” he said.
The former African champion Oshonaike also told ittf.com that she hoped to inspire and motivate girls through her participation at the Olympics.
“For me, I will be quitting but I want to use this my last experience to inspire and motivate young girls —- that you can achieve whatever you desire in life.
“You are the only one that can limit yourself in life,” the 45-year-old said.
Oshonaike is featuring in the women’s singles and is also pairing alongside Toriola in the mixed doubles at the qualifying event in Tunisia.
Toriola, on the other hand, is not participating in the men’s singles.
Meanwhile, three other Nigerians who are eyeing slots at this year’s Olympics event have secured straight set victories in their first two matches in Tunisia.
World-ranked number 18 Quadri Aruna won his first game 4-0 (11-2 11-4 11-6 11-9) against Josiah Wander of Kenya in group one.
The 2020 ITTF African Top 16 Cup finalist also defeated Christ Bienatik of Congo Brazzaville 4- 0 (11-9 11-1 11-7 11-9).
In the same vein, Olajide Omotayo went past Ahmed Djamal of Djibouti 4-0 (11-4 11-6 11-6 11-9).
He also won 4-0 (11-1 11-7 11-6 11-3) over Ghana’s Derek Abrefa in his second group two game.
Same scintillating performance was also recorded in the women’s event as Oshonaike also claimed a 4-0 (11-9 11-4 11-5 11-1) victory over Marta Gulti of Ethiopia.
She was also ahead of Algeria’s Katia Kessaci 4-0 (11-7 11-9 11-5 11-6).
In group one, Cyntia Nzangani of the Democratic Republic of Congo lost 0-4 (6-11 3-11 3-11 5-11) to Nigeria’s Offiong Edem.
Edem also saw off Mauritius’ Nandeshwaree Jalim 4-0 (14-12 11-3 11-6 11-1) in her second group game.
The tournament which will earn the semi-finalists in both the male and female events and a mixed doubles position at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will end on Saturday.