The President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Dr Daniel Igali has revealed that the Federation is working towards securing one more slot at Paris 2024 Olympics.
Six Nigerian wrestlers comprising five female and a male player already booked their ticket for Paris 2024 Olympics.
Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg); Blessing Oborodudu (68kg); Hannah Reuben (76kg) Esther Kolawole (62kg) and Christiana Ogunsanya (53kg) as well as one male, American-born Plateau State’s Ashton Mutuwa, have secured their tickets to the forthcoming quadriennial event.
Not resting on their achievements, Igali said the next motive is ensuring that another female wrestler, Mercy Genesis, who narrowly missed qualification recently at the Africa/ Oceania Qualifiers in Alexandria after losing in the 50kg weight class, would have another shot at joining the contingent to Paris 2024 during the next qualification window in Istanbul, Turkey, in May.
The former Olympic medlaist, Igali confirmed that Nigeria is the only country that has five female players qualifying for Paris 2024 and he will be a happy and fulfilled man to add to that number and win gold medals with the wrestlers at the Olympics.
“The board of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation is working hard to have an eventful outing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” Igali said in Lagos on his way to Baku as one of the officials for the European Olympic Qualifying Wrestling Tournament holding between April 5 and 7.
“Already, we have five females and one male wrestlers that are through to the Games.
“We had expected Mercy Genesis to secure her place during the last window in Alexandria but she was unlucky. However, she has another chance in Turkey to grab a place at the Olympic Games and, hopefully, she will get it, given her talent and determination.”
Ahead of Paris 2024, Igali, whose tenure as President of NWF elapses in 2025, said his joy would reach no bound should any of the athlete win a gold medal.
“It would be a thing of joy to see a Nigerian win gold and our national anthem played. We will keep working for the growth of the sport,” stated the former wrestling Olympic gold medallist for Canada.
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