Reigning Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2015 All Africa Games 53kg wrestling gold medallist, Odunayo Adekuoroye, on Friday won the gold for Nigeria at the 2016 United World Wrestling (UWW) Golden Grand Prix which ended yesterday in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Ondo State-born freestyle wrestler, who competed in the 58kg this time made a mincemeat of her Russian opponent, Nina Menkenova, 12-2 in the final at the Baku Sports Hall.
Adekuoroye had earlier defeated Tetyana Kit of Ukraine 10-0 and Aiym Abdildina of Kazakhstan 5-2 before she humiliated highly-rated Menkenova.
However, Glasgow 2014 and 2015 All Africa Games 58kg gold medallist, Aminat Adeniyi, who competed in 63kg, did not make much impact in the global championship.
Adeniyi, also from Ondo State, lost to Tkach Ostapchuk of Ukraine 0-4 and the 2013 world champion, Mariana Sastin of Hungary 3-6 to crash out.
The third Nigerian wrestler who made the trip, Amas Daniel, arrived in Azerbaijan late, while seven-time African champion, Blessing Oborududu could not make the trip.
Coach Purity Akuh was the only Nigeria coach who made the trip as earlier reported by Tribunesport having sponsored himself likewise the wrestlers.
President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (MWF), Daniel Igali, who spoke with Tribunesport by phone hailed the heroics of his wards at the Grand Prix.
“I am happy that Adekuoroye has become a world champion, it is no mean feat. I am a very fulfilled man at the moment as a result of this development,” he said.
“What is even amazing is that Adekuoroye competed in a higher class instead of 53kg and she won convincingly.
“Look at the margin in the final 12-2, it translated to a knock-out in the scoring system of wrestling. Once a wrestler leads the other by maximum of 10 points, the fight will be stopped and awarded in favour of the leading wrestler.
“On the other hand, I’m not happy with the circumstances that led to her victory because it came under enormous stress. For these athlete to go from door to door to beg for money to represent their country is pathetic.
“Imagine, N5million would have been okay to take all the eight delegates to Azerbaijan and come back since other expenses will be taken care by the organisers.
“Aminat was equally impressive despite the fact she lost her bouts. She too competed in a higher weight category 63kg. It is not clear to me yet how Adekuoroye and Aminat raised funds to travel, but I know that Ondo State has been very supportive of their progress. They have just come back from a three-month training tour of Germany. I guess Ondo State must have been bailed them out to make the trip,” Igali, a 2000 Sydney Olympics gold medallist said.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist revealed the effort he made for Daniel, a three-time African champion and Glasgow 2014 silver medallist to make the trip.
“Daniel arrived in late and was unable to meet the pre-tournament formalities. I hope his case will be considered by the organisers and will not be sanctioned since he actually made the trip.
“In fact, When I told the Bayelsa State governor {Hon. Seriake Dickson} that morning of the helpless situation the athletes were facing, he immediately approved money for Daniel to travel but unfortunately, he arrived in Azerbaijan late because of the time limit he had before leaving,” Igali said.
Meanwhile, Adekuoroye will also smile home with cash reward of $10,000 (N4million) while coach Aku will be rewarded with $2,000 (about N800,000) following the victory of his wrestler in line with the regulations of the WWW Golden Grand Prix.
Adekuoroye, it will be recalled, won the bronze at the 2015 edition when she defeated European Anjela Doroqan 10-0, in a championship also attended by another Nigerian, Oborududu.
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