Ahead of their title defence at this year’s Commonwealth Games , the duo of Blessing Oborududu and Odunayo Adekuoroye have been listed among the contenders at the 2022 Matteo Pellicone Ranking which kicks off today in Rome, Italy.
According to the organisers, the tournament which was earlier scheduled for February was postponed to June due to Covid-19 as top women’s wrestlers from five different continents will compete in the Italian capital .
In the 68kg, all eyes will be on Oborodudu, Tokyo Olympic Games silver medalist as she matches up against Moldovan Irina Ringaci who jumped to the Olympic weight after her triumph in the U-20 and senior world titles at 65kg last year.
Oborodudu ranked number 2 in the 68kg will also have American Tamyra Mensah-Stock to slug it out in the event.
Meanwhile, Adekuoroye in the 57kg, will be facing another youngster from Ukraine Alina Hrushyna, gold medalist at the U-23 World and European Championships.
The European will be hoping for an upset when she takes the experienced Adekuoroye who had two world medals in her kit.
The Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series will serve as a fantastic preview for the future of women’s wrestling and will display which women can enter the scene as medal contenders at the World Championships in September.