Wrestler Blessing Oborodudu was described as ‘blessing to Team Nigeria’ at the on-going Tokyo 2020 Olympics after she became the first Nigerian to reach the final of a wrestling event; following an impressive 7-2 victory against 2012 bronze medallist Battsetseg Soronzonbold of Mongolia in the last four clash.
The 10-time African champion Oborududu will face top seed Tamyra Stock Mensah in today’s final, after the American World champion overpowered Ukraine’s Alla Cherkasova 10-4 in the first semi-final.
Following her passage to the final, the 32-year-old is guaranteed at least a silver– the first wrestling medal in the country’s history at the Olympics.
” This is real Blessing to Nigeria,” Minister of Youth and sports Development Sunday Dare reportedly said. “ Thank you Blessing; for wiping away the pain of the near misses recorded in other events. Nigerians are proud of you.”
On her way to the final, Oborududu made light work of Elis Manolova in the round of 16, thrashing the Azerbaijani 13-2 via technical superiority, before securing a hard-fought 3-2 win against Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan in the quarter-finals.
After a cagey opening moment in her semi-final bout against the 2015 World champion Soronzonbold, the energetic Oborududu burst into action, taking down the 31-year-old Mongolian thrice to eventually win the first round 7-0.
A late fight back saw Soronzonbold score two points, but Oborududu was never going to be denied a place in history as she ran out with a comfortable 7-2 win.
The second seed Oborududu will renew her rivalry with old foe Mensah, as they battle for the ultimate prize – gold medal, with the pair expected to get on the mat around 11.15am Nigerian time.
They last met at the 2019 World championships in Kazakhstan, with the American getting the better of Oborududu on her way to the title.
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