By Amgbare Prince, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Wrestling Federation has announced the six athletes who will represent Nigeria at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
In a ceremony held at the Dynamite Wrestling Gym in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Federation President Hon. Daniel Igali announced the team, which consisted of five female wrestlers, one male wrestler, and three coaches.
Igali, who also serves as Bayelsa State’s Commissioner for Sports Development, emphasized the rigorous selection and training process the athletes underwent, expressing confidence in their ability to make Nigeria proud.
Igali, a 1998 Olympic gold medalist, extended his gratitude to Bayelsa State Governor Sen. Douye Diri for his steadfast support of sports development and to the Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoch, for consistently backing the federation’s initiatives.
“The Nigeria Wrestling Federation is highly committed. Our athletes have been training intensively, and in my view, they are prepared. They are not just going to Paris to participate but to compete for medals,” Igali stated.
Bayelsa State Secretary Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei also expressed optimism about the athletes’ prospects at the 2024 Olympics, lauding sports as a unifying force in Nigeria and praising Igali’s contributions to the state and wrestling.
The unveiled wrestlers included:
Blessing Oborodudu (68kg): 14-time African Champion, ranked 8th in the world.
Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg): Multiple-time African Champion, currently ranked 2nd in the world.
Hannah Reuben (76kg): Gold Medalist at the World Military Championship.
Esther Kolawole (62kg): Reigning African Champion and Olympic debutant.
Ogunsanya Christinah (53kg): Reigning African Champion and Olympic debutant.
Ashton Mutuwa (125kg): Bronze Medalist at the US National Championship in men’s freestyle wrestling.
The coaching team comprises Victor Kodei, Purity Akuh, and Happiness Burutu.
In their goodwill messages, Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning Hon. George Flint, Chief Jackson Bidei, and Bayelsa House of Assembly Committee on Sports Chairman Mr. Tari Porri urged the athletes to excel at the tournament.
Wrestlers Blessing Oborodudu and Esther Kolawole, in interviews, expressed readiness and optimism for a podium finish at the Olympic Games.
The team is set to leave Nigeria for Spain on July 3rd for a pre-Olympic tournament in Madrid, before heading to Germany for final preparations ahead of the games.
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