Nigerian wrestlers at the just concluded 2023 Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid put up an impressive show by winning two gold and a bronze medal as they prepare for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Olympic silver medallist, Blessing Oborududu, defeated Katerina Lange of USA 10 to 0 points in the 68kg Bronze medal match while Mercy Genesis and Esther Kolawale gave a good account of themselves by picking up gold medals after beating Ashlynn Ortega of USA 7 to 0 points and Jacqueline Mollocana of Ecuador 15 to 2 points in the finals of 62kg and 50kg respectively.
The president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Dr Daniel Igali lauded the efforts of the victorious wrestlers as he said that wrestling is turning out to be one of the country’s best hopes to win medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
While insisting that there is still room for improvement, commended Genesis, Obordudu and Kolawale who were part of the team at the 2nd edition of the African Beach Games in Hammamet, Tunisia, where they won three gold for the country.
He said the Wrestling Federation has identified about eight athletes who deserved to be exposed but the federation is constrained by lack of money.
The Olympian also concluded that the Spanish Grand Prix was a good platform for the athletes to get ready for the world championships coming up in Serbia in September.
