Nigeria’s female wrestlers have begun to prove their dominance in wrestling having won 10 medals at the ongoing Africa Wrestling Championships holding at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each of the 10 wrestlers, who represented the country in the cadet freestyle, won a medal in this category which ended late on Wednesday night.
The wrestlers clinched five gold, one silver and four bronze medals.
The gold medalists are Yetunde Olatunji (40kg), Christian Ogunsanya (46kg), Mercy Adekuoroye (53kg), Simisola Olatunji (65kg) and Cecilia James (68kg).
The only silver medalist was Natasha Essien (73kg) while Esther Asaolu (43kg), Aina Ohida (49kg), Jumoke Adekoye (57kg) and Esther Kolawole (61kg) clinched bronze medals.
Purity Akuh, Team Nigeria Female Coach at the competition, said that this record tells a lot about Nigeria and Nigeria’s Wrestling Federation.
Akuh told NAN that it showed that they were putting so much effort into training and that it was producing good wrestlers.
“This result shows that we are on the right course and we will keep striving to record more success.
“The Youth Olympic Game is coming up later this year and this championship is also a qualifier to it.
“In this championship, our athletes took part in four of the eight categories that will be featured at the Youth Olympic Games,” Akuh said.
He added that prior to the championships he was thinking that each of all the 10 wrestlers would win a gold medal.
“With my assessment of them, I had boasted of 10 gold medals. I’m very sure what affected them all is lack of exposure.
“This championship is actually their debut at international competition. With more exposures, they are all good to go and will conquer at future competitions,” he said.
The championship with contingents from 16 countries participating in different events will end on Feb. 11.
The countries are: Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Namibia, Kenya, Burundi, Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Central Africa Republic (CAR), Madagascar and the host, Nigeria.
Also, contingents from some other countries were still being expected at the championship.
NAN also reports that 90 wrestlers, comprising males and females are representing Nigeria at the championship.
