Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu has secured a spot in the semifinals of the women’s 68kg wrestling competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics, ensuring she will bring home a medal for her country.
The 35-year-old wrestler now has a chance to improve on the silver medal she earned at Tokyo 2020.
Oborududu faced a challenging start in her match against Canada’s Linda Morais, conceding two points in the first three minutes.
However, she demonstrated remarkable resilience by scoring six unanswered points in the second half, resulting in an 8-2 victory that propelled her into the semifinals.
In the quarterfinals, Oborududu overcame another tough opponent, France’s Koumba Larroque, winning 6-2 to secure her place in the penultimate round of the competition.
Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, has praised Oborududu’s performance and urged her to aim for gold.
“Blessing Oborududu has shown incredible resilience and skill throughout her journey. We believe in her abilities and are cheering her on to make Nigeria proud once again,” he stated.
In related news, head coach of Nigeria’s women’s wrestling team, Akuh Purity, is optimistic about the team’s potential to surpass the country’s previous Olympic achievements.
In an interview with Promise Okotoko, Media Assistant of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Purity expressed confidence in her team’s preparation and determination to excel at the Paris Olympics.
“We are aware of the high expectations placed on us after Oborududu’s silver medal at the last Olympics, but we are not under pressure. The federation has been incredibly supportive, and we have created a conducive training environment for the athletes,” Purity said.
Blessing Oborududu will continue her quest for Olympic glory on Tuesday, with Nigeria eagerly awaiting to see whether she will win gold, silver, or bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
