Team Nigeria won six (6) gold medals in the women’s wrestling event at the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana on Sunday evening, www.aclsports.com reports.
The finals of the Women’s Wrestling event started at about 5pm local time at the Dome, Borteyman Sports Complex with six Nigerian Wrestlers having the chance to accomplish a feat set by their men’s counterparts in Cairo ’91.
Mercy Genesis was the first Nigerian to step to the mat in the final in her 50kg women’s freestyle event. The Commonwealth Games champion had no problems defeating Nada Mohamed 7-0 (Pinfall) to win the title.
Debutant Christianah Ogunsanya also pummelled Nogona Bakayoko of Cote D’Ivoire 11-0 (Technical Superiority) in the women’s 53kg to become an African Games Champion.
It took World silver medallist Odunayo Adekuoroye just about twenty-three (23) seconds to beat Zineb Hassoune of Morocco 7-0 (Pinfall) in the 57kg to add up to her continental titles.
Thereafter came World Under 23 bronze medallist, Esther Kolawole who has now won gold medal at her maiden African Games participation in women’s 62kg by Technical Superiority.
In the women’s 68kg, Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborodudu defeated Nyeh Ngiri of Cameroon 14-4 (Technical Superiority) to win her 15th continental title.
After years of being in the shadows of Egypt’s Samar Hamza, Nigeria’s Hannah Reuben defeated Ivory Coast’s Amy Youin 10-0 (Technical Superiority) to win Gold medal in the 74kg women’s wrestling final.
Nigeria’s medal haul in Wrestling significantly shot Team Nigeria up to on the medals table as the team now amassed seven gold medals and are placed fourth. Egypt are top of the medals table with thirty-six gold medals already.
Dare Kuti, reporting from Accra
