All eyes will be on Team Nigeria today as the battle for medals begins in the wrestling event of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham at the Coventry Arena.
The Nigerian wrestling contingent is one of the favourites in the event, especially the women’s freestyle will have athletes competing in 12 events with six each for men and women, all in freestyle.
According to the wrestling statistics, Nigeria’s Odunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing Oborududu are two of the women’s wrestlers that have three medals in the last three editions of the games (2010-2018) while India’s Babita Kumari is the third wrestler with such a record.
In the last two editions (2014-2018), Adekuoroye and Aminat Adeniyi are among the four athletes that have won gold medals. Others are India’s Vinesh Phogat and Canada’s Erica Wiebe being the Games record in wrestling.
Read Also: Weightlifter Olarinoye Speaks: My mum made me cry after winning Commonwealth gold medal
For two days, 10 Nigerian wrestlers made up of six women and four men will be aiming for the six gold medals target set for the team by the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
The team includes Olympic Games silver medalist, Blessing Oborududu, Commonwealth Games champion, Odunayo Adekuoroye, her younger sister Mercy, Mercy Genesis, Kolawole Esther and Hannah Reuben. Others include Ebikenmo Welson, Agiomor Ekerekeme and Amas Daniel.
The team were camped in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital where they enjoyed tremendous support from the Bayelsa government and they are expected to make Nigeria proud.
President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Daniel Igali has also assured that, Team Nigeria athletes would give their best to win as many medals as possible in the wrestling events.