U23 World bronze medallist, Esther Kolawole has expressed delight over qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Esther Kolawole overcame Angelina Rodrigues (Cape Verde) 10-0 (Technical Superiority) in the women’s 62kg at the 2024 African/Oceanic Olympic Qualifiers in Egypt.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist told www.aclsports.com that she appreciates the support gotten from the wrestling family.
She said, “I feel great, happy, excited, very grateful to God Almighty. To my personal coach, Purity Akuh; President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Hon Daniel igali, the board of the Nigeria wrestling federation, my family and my training partners I really appreciate their support and contributions towards my achievement.
“I won a gold at the 13th African Games, gold at the 2024 African Wrestling Championships and I got a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the African/Oceania Olympic qualification tournament in Egypt”.
The African Games gold medallist noted that she can make a huge statement at this year’s Olympic Games.
Kolawole said, “I am very sure I can make a statement at the big stage, with God all things are possible. My Coach told me after I got a ticket to Paris that I have every chance of winning at the Olympics. He said I just need to work on my mentality, work harder and add a few things to my wrestling, I got the message and am ready to make a statement on the big stage.
“The atmosphere at the African/Oceania Qualifiers was so different from the regular tournament. It looked so different because of the two continents coming together to compete, the competition arena was decorated like the Olympics stage. Thank God for the experienced coaches and the pep talk from Hon Daniel Igali reduced the pressure and I got the confidence I needed”.
