Africa cadet champion, Sunmisola Balogun has promised not to disappoint the country at the ongoing Cadet World Wrestling Championships.
The Cadet World Championships is taking place in Zagreb, Croatia from July 3rd to 8th.
Sunmisola Balogun and fellow compatriot, Esther Kolawole (61kg) an African champion, are the two wrestlers hoping to make Nigeria proud and will be guided by head coach of the female national team, Purity Akuh who also doubles as the Ondo State wrestling head coach.
Balogun said, “I’ve been in camp with other wrestlers preparing for the Africa Youth Games. I have stepped up preparations and I promise not to disappoint the country.”
She said: “This is my first time of participating in a championship outside Nigeria and I am really excited to have also qualified for the Youth Olympics.
“It is going to be a very good opportunity for me to be exposed and get more experience before the Youth Olympics Games.”
It is the first time Nigeria will be participating in the Cadet World Championships since its inception in 1975.
The Ondo State-born wrestler came from 4-0 down to defeat Natasha Nabaina of Cameroon 5-4 in a tight final of the 65kg class, to win a gold medal for the country at the 2018 African Championship in Port Harcourt last February.
The wrestler had an impressive outing in Port Harcourt, having defeated Natacha Nabaina of Cameroon 2-0 in Round 1 before beating Charmone Oosthuizen of South Africa 11-0 in Round 3 and Chaimae Taibi of Morocco 10-0 in the semifinal.
