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Tag: Blessing Oborududu

  • Goodbye To Greatness : Oborududu retires with wrestling  gold  from NSF 2024

    Goodbye To Greatness : Oborududu retires with wrestling  gold  from NSF 2024

    Following a glittering career which ended with gold medal finish at the Gateway Games Ogun 2024 on Wednesday, Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist, Blessing Oborududu, made an emotional goodbye to wrestling after 19 years of active stint on the mat.

    The 14-time African champion won her final bout to clinch gold for Bayelsa in the ongoing National Sports Festival in Abeokuta and end an illustrious career

    The Bayelsa State-born wrestler received emotional farewell from national teammates as well as standing ovation from fans, officials, and wrestling stakeholders

    “I want to thank everyone who has been part of my journey, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation led by Daniel Igali and the board members, my teammates, and family,”

    Oborududu said with an emotion-laden voice in her farewell speech

    She continued: “After the Olympics, I thought of retiring, but the President suggested I retire officially at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta where I made my first appearance as a young wrestler back in 2006”.

    “I created a lot of memories, but my most memorable one was the Tokyo Olympics, which ignited hope across Africa because it was the first ever medal from an African woman in wrestling at the Olympics, and I hope more will come for our future wrestlers.”

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    In his goodwill remarks, President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Honourable Daniel Igali, described Oborududu as an exceptional and absolute professional beyond being an athlete.

    He said: “The type of Blessing is not easy to come by, and not easy to replace. I get questions like how are you going to replace Blessing, the thing is, you can’t replace Blessing, you might have another athlete, but not Blessing.

    “That’s why I say bitter-sweet because the selfish part of you wants athlete like this to compete forever because for you m it is not just to have any athlete that does well, but one who has that mind-set, discipline, pureness for the sport and most of these wrestlers you see stay with her in her house and she takes care of them as a duty.

    “She is like a big sister to them, and that for me is more than being a champion on the mat.” Igali stated.

    Similarly, Hannah Reuben led the tribute of teammates, who stated her heartfelt admiration for Oborududu, acknowledging her dedication, achievements, and impact. She expressed gratitude to her years of service and being a great teammate and captain, and wishing her well in her future endeavours.

  • Adekuoroye, Oborududu lead 14 others to Tunisia

    Commonwealth Games gold medallists –Odunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing Oborududu will lead 14 others to the 2019 African Wrestling Championship holding in Hammamet, Tunisia.

    In the 16-man list released by the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), eight-time African champion Oborududu will be aiming for another record feat in Tunisia and will be competing in the 68kg of the women’s freestyle.

    Adekuoroye who is ranked fourth in the world in the women’s 57kg will also be in action. Others include another Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Aminat Adeniyi who will compete in the 62kg.

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    Other members of the women’s team are Genesis Mercy (50kg), Nweke Rosemary (53kg), Kolawole Esther (55kg), Nwoye Ifeoma (59kg), Balogun Sunmisola (65kg), Hannah Reuben (72kg) and Onyebuchi Blessing (76kg).

    The men’s team has Welson Ebikewenimo (57kg), Amas Daniel (65kg), Nworie Emmanuel (71kg), John Emmanuel (74kg), Agiomor Ekerekeme (79kg) and Bibo Melvin (86kg).

    The team will be handled by the duo of Purity Akun and Victor Kodei, while the NWF President, Daniel Igali will lead the contingent to the North African nation today.

    However, Igali told NationSport that team is poised to defend the title it won at the 2018 edition in Rivers State.

  • 2019 African Wrestling Championship: Adekuoroye, Oborududu lead 14 others to Tunisia

    Commonwealth Games gold medalists – Odunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing Oborududu will lead 14 others to the 2019 African Wrestling Championship holding in Hammamet, Tunisia.

    In the 16-man list released by the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), eight-time African champion Oborududu will be aiming for another record feat in Tunisia as she will be competing in the 68kg of the women’s freestyle.

    Adekuoroye who is ranked fourth in the world in the women’s 57kg will also be in action. Others include another Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Aminat Adeniyi who will compete in the 62kg.

    Other members of the women’s team are Genesis Mercy (50kg), Nweke Rosemary (53kg), Kolawole Esther (55kg), Nwoye Ifeoma (59kg), Balogun Sunmisola (65kg), Hannah Reuben (72kg) and Onyebuchi Blessing (76kg).

    The men’s team has Welson Ebikewenimo (57kg), Amas Daniel (65kg), Nworie Emmanuel (71kg), John Emmanuel (74kg), Agiomor Ekerekeme (79kg) and Bibo Melvin (86kg).

    Read also: 2019 African Wrestling Championships: Hope rises as NWF confirmed participation

    The team will be handled by the duo of Purity Akun and Victor Kodei, while the NWF President, Daniel Igali will lead the contingent to the North African nation today.

    However, Igali told NationSport that team is poised to defend the title it won at the 2018 edition in Rivers State.

    “We are going with full female team but we cannot afford to go there with the full team of the men’s team due to lack of fund. We are the defending champion in the female event while we are also the champion in the men’s event as we topped Egypt by three points at the last edition in Port Harcourt. I am sure we can retain our title in the female team but I know it is going to be tough particularly with the host team, Tunisia because they are also in good shape for now,” Igali said.

    The female team is expected to compete on March 30 while the men’s team will take to the mat on March 31.

    The team made up of 16 wrestlers and five officials departed Nigeria yesterday aboard a Turkish Airline enroute Istanbul to Tunis.

     

  • Blessing Oborududu gunning for gold

    Eight-time African wrestling champion, Blessing Oborududu is eyeing gold medal in her third attempt at the 2018 Commonwealth Games holding in Gold Coast, Australia.

    In her debut at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, Oborududu settled for silver while she added a bronze medal to her haul at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games but in Gold Coast, she is aiming for the gold to complete the colours of medals at the games.

    The 29-year-old told NationSport at the weekend that she is primed for gold this year. “I am going for nothing less than gold medal this time around having tasted what it meant to win silver and bronze. I believe my efforts will see me through this year having competed very well in some of the major competitions within the continent this year. Nobody can stop me as I am in the right frame mind for the championship.”

    Since making his debut for Nigeria n 2009, Oborududu has won gold medals in all her appearances at the African Championship from 2010 and she has remained one of the most decorated wrestlers in Sub-Sahara African and heading to the Commonwealth Games, she is ready to roar against any opponent.

    For Coach Purity Akuh, the six-man female wrestlers have the ability to deliver less than three gold medals for Nigeria. “I am so sure that we can win at least three gold medals. It can be more than that but it cannot be less than that. Also, the six female wrestlers will win medals which I am sure of while the men will also do their best. All the wrestlers are responding well in training and they are all in good shape and form for the games,” Akuh said.

     

  • Oborududu wins 8th African title; Adekuoroye, Adeniyi bag gold

    Oborududu wins 8th African title; Adekuoroye, Adeniyi bag gold

    Nine Gold medals and one silver medal has been won in the Senior Women’s Wrestling category of the 2018 African Wrestling Championship in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in a Nigeria female wrestlers dominated contest.
    Blessing Oborududu defeated Sambou Anta 14-3 in the 68kg to secure her 8th title on the continent.
    World Wrestling Silver medalist, Odunayo Adekuoroye claimed her 4th African title by defeating Cameroon’s Essombe Joseph Emilienne in the 57kg by technical superiority.
    Also, Commonwealth gold medalist, Aminat Adeniyi won her 4th title by defeating Tunisia’s Lilia Mejri 10-0 in the 62kg category.

    Read Also: Ukoro, Balogun Deliver Gold For Team Nigeria on Opening Day

    Another Commonwealth gold medalist, Ifeoma Nwoye also reclaimed her African title after missing last year’s edition by defeating Tunisia’s Faten Hammami in the 55kg.
    Former Juniors African champion, Bisola Makanjuola defeated  Egypt’s Eman Ebrahim in the 59kg.
    Two-time African champion,  Winnie Gofit beat Kenya’s Nthiga in 11 seconds in the 72kg to retain her title. Bose Samuel defeated Soro Tiemongo of Ivory Coast by pinfall in the 53kg.
     Miesinnei Mercy Genesis won her second African title by beating Algeria’s Kheira Yahiaoui 10-0 in the 50kg.
    Reuben Hannah also won gold in the 65kg by defeating Emily Mbogo of Kenya 10-0 to reclaim her African crown.
    The only silver medal in the Senior Women’s Wrestling was won silver after losing to Samr Hanza of Egypt in the final of the 76kg.
  • African Wrestling Championships: Team Nigeria return with 8 gold, 2 silver

    African Wrestling Championships: Team Nigeria return with 8 gold, 2 silver

    NIGERIA wrestling contingent to the 2017 Senior African Wrestling Championships in Marrakech, Morocco returned to the country on Monday with a total of 10 medals consisting of eight gold and two silver medals.

    Out of the medals, the female wrestlers accounted for eight (six gold and two silvers) while their male counterpart won the remaining two gold medals.

    Olympian and All Africa Games champion, Mercy Miesinnei Genesis recorded three falls and a technical fall to win the gold medal in the 48kg.

    World No 7, Odunayo Adekuoroye, a 2015 world bronze medalist, Olympian and Commonwealth gold medalist, did not disappoint as she won gold in the 55kg.

    Aminat Adeniyi followed in the same direction by winning gold in the 58kg, so also Gofit Winnie, who won gold in the 75kg.

    Blessing Oborududu and new entrant, Kemeasuodei Dressman also gave Nigeria gold medals in the 69kg and 63kg respectively.

     

    Two other wrestlers, Bisola Makanjuola and Bose Samuel won silver medals in the 60kg and 53kg respectively.

    John Emmanuel defeated Maher GHANMI of Tunisia by 5-2 in the finals of the 70kg male freestyle category, while Soso Tamara completed the gold rush for Nigeria.

    However, the upset of the tournament is the failure of Olympian Amas Daniel, Welson Ebikewenimo (Commonwealth silver medalist) and All Africa Games gold medalist, Melvin Bibo and Praize Micheal 80kg to win medals of any color, while Praize Micheal 80kg could not pull a surprise in his first ever international appearance as he won one match and losing three.

    Meanwhile, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Hon. Daniel Igali has described the performance of the wrestlers as outstanding, considering the paucity of funds available during their preparations for the competition.

    Igali who was with the team in Morocco believes with sponsorship, the wrestlers can win medals at the 2020 Olympics.

    “I have to commend these wrestlers for putting up such performance and I am proud of them considering their preparations and circumstances surrounding the release of funds for the competition.

    “These wrestlers are outstanding. If we secure sponsorship for the wrestling team, medals in 2020 will be assured”, Igali said in a chat with Sportinglife.

     

  • AFRICAN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Lack of funds threatens Nigeria’s participation

    AFRICAN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Lack of funds threatens Nigeria’s participation

    With four days left to the commencement of the 2017 Africa Wrestling Championships in Marrakech, Morocco, the hope of having all Nigeria wrestlers at the event is in serious doubts due to non availability of funds.

    Top African countries including South Africa, Egypt and host, Morocco are expected to participate at the Championship billed to hold from April 26 to May 1, 2017.

    About 24 wrestlers who qualified to represent the country following their exploits at the 2nd Governor Seriake Dickson Wrestling Classics held in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State are yet to be called into camp, while most of them are in the dark over their visas.

    In a chat with NationSport, some of the athletes who do not want their names in print, expressed disappointment with their preparations as they are also not aware of their travelling plans by the Federal Ministry of Sports.

    However, Secretary of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Ahmed Abdullahi in a telephone chat with NationSport on Friday afternoon, revealed that funds are expected to be released by the ministry on Monday, while some of the wrestlers are expected to get their visas the same day.

    “Our preparation for the Africa Championship is on course, we are now planning to do the visa pending the release of money by the ministry to know the number of athletes that will actually be going.

    “I’m even at the Moroccan Embassy now and we were told to bring the passports on Monday but because of the paucity of funds we cannot go with all the contingents.

    “Some of the wrestlers have borrowed money and they will pay for their air tickets and when the money is released on Monday, we can do the visas for some of the athletes who could not get money on their own.

    “So if we cannot get enough funds, then we will only go for the styles that we have strong holds and sure of medals”.

    If Nigeria is to put up appearance at the event considering submission by the secretary, it means the ministry and other bodies involved will need to work at break-neck-speed to meet up as they will have only two days to the championship by Monday.

    Failure of Nigeria Olympic wrestlers to participate at the championship will see wrestlers such as Odun Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi, Amas Daniel, Soso Tamara, Blessing Oborududu and Melvin Bibo lose their titles.

  • Adekuoroye, Oborududu get opponents for Wrestling Grand Prix

    Adekuoroye, Oborududu get opponents for Wrestling Grand Prix

    As the United World Wrestling (UWW)-organised Golden Grand Prix begins today in Azerbaijan, Nigeria’s flag bearers, Odunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing Oborududu will get to know their opponents in the women’s 53kg and 68kg of the women’s freestyle event.

    The men’s freestyle events kick-start the championship at the Baku Sports Hall with winners in the eight events to be decided today, while the draw for the women’s freestyle event will be conducted today in the presence of coaches and leader of delegations to the competition.

    Nigeria’s coach to the tournament, Purity Akuh told NationSport from Baku that the athletes are eager to enter the ring as they intensify their training since touching down in the Asian nation on Wednesday.

    “The time in Baku is three hours ahead of Nigeria and it is a bit cold out here. But my athletes are used to this as we going for our second training later today. Everybody is fully ready and it promises to be explosive as the world’s best are here in Baku to test might with one another at the end-of-the-year championship,” Akuh said.

    Oborududu, 2012 London Olympic Games quarterfinal will be competing against top wrestlers likes Russia’s Valeria Lazinskaya, European Games champion; Ukraine’s Yulia Tkach , 2014 world champion; Belarus’ Maria Mamashuk, 2014 European runner-up and Latvia’s Anastasija Grigorjeva, who is double European champion.

    Like Oborududu, Adekuoroye will be battling for honours against 12 times world champion, Japan’s Saori Yoshida; and two-times runner’s up at the world championship, Sweden’s Sofia Mattsson and double Asian champion, China’s Zhong Xuechun.

    24 events will be competed for at the tournament taking place at the Baku Sports Hall with winner in each event carting home $10,000 while runner’s up gets $5,000. The third place athletes will get $2,000 each. For coaching the eventual winners, the coaches of the winners will get $2,000 for their efforts.

  • “We’re not going to make up numbers in Azerbaijan”

    “We’re not going to make up numbers in Azerbaijan”

    As the five-man Nigerian team departs today to Azerbaijan for the United World Wrestling (UWW)-organised Golden Grand Prix, African champion, Blessing Oborududu believes their presence in Baku would surely count.

      As the continent’s best ranked wrestlers, Oborududu and Odunayo Adekuoroye will represent Nigeria at the end-of-year UWW-organised Golden Grand Prix in Baku and they team is expected to be led by the Secretary General of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Segun Oguntade as well as the hander of the team, Purity Akuh and a medical personnel.

      Oborududu, a quarter-finalist at the 2012 London Olympic Games will be competing in the 63kg of the women’s freestyle event while her compatriot, Adekuoroye will battle for honours in the 53kg of the women’s freestyle as well.

      A confident Oborududu told NationSport yesterday that she would be going to Baku to add up the number of participants as she is hoping to make it to the podium.

      “My target is to make it to the medal spot because I don’t just want to go there and make up the numbers. It is high time I asserted myself at global level because I have dominated the game in Africa and I must also prove myself at global stage,” she said.

      However, the 300 level undergraduate of the Niger Delta University will contend with top wrestlers likes Russia’s Valeria Lazinskaya, European Games champion; Ukraine’s Yulia tkach , 2014 world champion; Belarus’ Maria Mamashuk, 2014 European runner-up and Latvia’s Anastasija Grigorjeva, who is double European champion.

      Like Oborududu, Adekuoroye, who has already booked her place in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games after finishing in third place at the 2015 World Championship, is optimistic that they can replicate the feat they achieved at the 2015 African Games in Baku.

      Like her compatriot, Adekuoroye will face a herculean task as she has to battle for laurel against 12 times world champion, Japan’s Saori Yoshida; and two-times runner’s up at the world championship, Sweden’s Sofia Mattsson and double Asian champion, China’s Zhong Xuechun.

      24 events will be competed for at the tournament taking place at the Baku Sports Hall with winner in each event carting home $10,000 while runner’s up gets $5,000. The third place athletes will get $2,000 each. For coaching the eventual winners, the coaches of the winners will get $2,000 for their efforts.