The reigning African champion, Esther Kolawole, over the weekend secured a bronze medal in the 62kg weight class at the 2024 U23 World Wrestling Championships in Tirana, Albania.
Kolawole in the 16th round, lost to USA Macey Kilty 3-3 on criteria.
Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Media Assistant, Promise Okotoko, in a statement in released yesterday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, disclosed that the 2024 Paris Olympian in a repachaged match, defeated Tynys Dubek of Kazakhstan by a 10-0 superiority score, having beaten Venezuela’s Astrid Montero with same scoreline 10-0.
He stated that undeterred, Kolawole secured the bronze medal with an emphatic 10-0 superiority win over Viktoria Vesso of Estonia.
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Reacting to the win in Albania, the President Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Dr. Daniel Igali, applauded the motivated reaction of Kolawole after she lost in the 16th round.
Igali, who, alongside Coach Akuh Purity, led the female wrestler to the championship, expressed confidence that the experience will shape her for future international events.
He said: “Esther was unlucky not to be in the finals of this event. Our goal is to start the preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in earnest. Getting on the podium at the U-23 world championships is a step towards that goal”.
Kolawale is expected to return back to Nigeria in readiness for the 3rd Gov. Diri National Championships from November 5-9 in Yenagoa.
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