Nigerian female table tennis icon, Funke Oshonaike has promised to use her recent appointment to the International Olympic Committtee (IOC) athletes’ commission to speak firmly on issues affecting all sports stars at home and abroad.
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Sports247 reports that the Germany-based retired ping ping star is one of five new members specially selected by IOC president, Kristy Coventry ahead of Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
While outlining her expected line of duty, Oshonaike admitted she has to speak for African athletes as a whole, but conceded that her responsibility must begin with Nigerian issues.
Oshonaike recounted, “When we go for major competitions like the Olympics, we always admire the athletes from countries in the Western World. We always marvel at the way they dress, the way they do things and how they concentrate.
“On the other hand, we are battling one problem or the other, and we keep going through so many issues. Of course, I’m a Nigerian, and I’m proud to be from Nigeria. So, I must first face issues that affect Nigerian athletes.”
She then looked ahead into the bigger picture of things that are expected from her as a member of the IOC’s athletes’ commission, and pledged to play roles for all levels of sports stars from Africa, both active and retired.
“As I step into this position of responsibility, I’ll make sure that I listen more to the voice of athletes in Nigeria and then those from other countries in Africa, because we are going through almost the same things.
“That’s why I am expected to listen to their voices, listen to their needs and pay attention to what they want. It’s not only for athletes who are competing actively, but it’s also for the retired ones.
“We have to face how we meet up with what they need, uphold their welfare and tackle issues they are facing after competing actively,” Oshonaike pointed out.
The 2007 Africa Games gold medalist and seven-time Olympian rounded off by stating that she will gather views and suggestions from various sources to table for discussions at the global body’s committee.
“I must go to the Olympic committee’s high council with lots of information, and we’ll sit down to see how we can help all these people solve their problems,” Oshonaike submitted.
