From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Nigeria has unveiled its contingent to the World Senior Wrestling Championship holding in Paris, France.
The wrestlers unveiled include four female, Africa Champion, 2014 World Bronze medallist and world number one in the 53 kg category, Adekuroye Odunayo, seven times African champion Blessing Oborodudu, African Champion in 48kg, Mercy Genesis and Common wealth gold medallist in 58kg, Aminat Adeniyi. Two times African champion in the 65kg, Amos Daniel and African Champion, John Emmanuel would represent Nigeria in the male category.
Also included in the contingent are two coaches, the female national head coach, Purity Akuh and 14 times African Champion, Victor Kodei.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony held in Yenagoa, the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation and a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Daniel Igali expressed confidence in the ability of the Nigeria representatives to put up a good performance.
“The team is in very high spirit and I am optimistic that they would deliver. The adjusted United Wrestling ranking in the female 55kg will be a boost to Adekuroye. Before now the country has won three bronze medals coming from Ifeoma Iheanacho(back to back 2009 and 2010) as well as Odunayo Adekuroye in 2014.”
We hope to perfect the records this time around by winning the first ever gold medal at the World Championship.
Igali however complained about lack of funding which forced him to bring the wrestles to Yenagoa where they were camped for three weeks using his personal gymnasium recently commissioned by Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, to train.
According to him the funding to go for the competition is not ready yet but he was optimistic that the Bayelsa state government which has almost adopted the Nigeria Wrestlers would come to the aid of the team.
Source : SunOnline