2014 Commonwealth Champion, Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg), Eight time African champion, Blessing Oborududu (68kg) and Commonwealth Bronze medalist, Blessing Onyebuchi (76kg) alongside nine other wrestlers that will represent Nigeria at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali gave the other female wrestlers as 2014 Commonwealth Champion, Aminat Adeniyi, 2-time African Champion and 2015 All African Games gold medalist, Mercy Genesis (50kg) and African champion, Bose Samuel (53kg).
He said the male wrestlers are 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Sinivie Boltic (125kg), Six time African champion, Amas Daniel (65kg) who doubles as the captain of the Nigeria male team, African champion Melvin Bibo (86kg), Commonwealth silver medalist, Welson Ebikewenimo (57kg); former African champion, Soso Tamarau (97kg) and Amos Assizecourt (74kg).
Missing in the list made available to aclsports.com is John Ogbonna Emmanuel, who is ranked World No.1 in the 70kg freestyle category by the United World Wrestling (UWW) and African champion, Dressman Kemesuodei.
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Igali said the two-time African champion is in a non-Commonwealth Games weight class.
Igali said the Governor Wike Wrestling Championship held in Port Harcourt late last year was used as trials for the Commonwealth Games.
“We used tournaments to select the teams. But if there is a compelling case, we make decisions in the best interest of the country,” Igali explained.
In the 76kg weight category, 2018 Africa silver medalist, Blessing Onyebuchi beat Nigeria Army’s Winnie Gofit in a keenly contested bout.
Sinivie Boltic will be making his fourth appearance, while Amas Daniel as well as veteran Blessing Oborududu will also mark their third appearances at the Commonwealth Games.
