This selection presents Oshonaike with an opportunity to attend her eighth Olympic Games, this time as a representative to serve as an intermediary between athletes and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

If elected, Oshonaike will be one of four representatives who will bridge the communication between athletes and the IOC.

Reflecting on this opportunity, she expressed her hopes of winning a medal for Nigeria in this capacity, as she has not previously secured an Olympic medal during her competitive career.

“For me, it’s going to be a big challenge, and I just hope that I’m going to win a medal for Nigeria. You know, I’ve not been able to win any medal while competing at the Olympics.

“This time around, if I should win this medal, it’s going to be the greatest for me because it’s a very difficult situation. I just have to be able to talk to Olympians in Paris 2024.”

Oshonaike emphasized her role in the election and her hopes of being a good ambassador for Nigeria.

She also extended her best wishes to the Nigerian table tennis contingent, particularly noting the participation of first-timer Fatima and the experienced Offiong Eddem.

“We have two wonderful athletes who are going to represent Nigeria in table tennis. I’m wishing them good luck. They are the younger ones, especially Fatima.

“Fatima is a first-timer, and Offiong Edem, I think, is going for her fourth or fifth Olympics. She is more experienced. I just hope that they will be good ambassadors of Nigeria.”

Much has been said about Funke’s status within the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation, and it became more apparent when she did not make the Africa Games team.

She will also not be a part of the contingent to the Olympic Games, however, she hopes to be a good ambassador of the country on the world stage, however, not in an active capacity to play the game in representing Nigeria.