Nine Nigerian wrestlers to fight for Olympic tickets in Tunisia

THE Nigerian wrestling team to the Africa/Oceania qualifiers in Tunisia has been reduced to nine from 10.

The qualifying competition for this summer Olympics will be held in Hammamet, Tunisia from Friday to Sunday.

The Nigeria Wrestling Federation revealed that Blessing Onyebuchi (76kg) fractured her femur (thighbone) in training a few days to the competition and had to withdraw.The team for the three-day event is now made up of five male wrestlers and four female wrestlers.

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has charged the Nigerian wrestlers to make the country proud by winning tickets to the Tokyo 2020 Games in Japan. 

Diri spoke to the team in Yenagoa, where they have been camped for nearly one month in preparation for the qualifiers, before their departure for Tunisia.

During a brief ceremony before the team left for Tunisia, the Bayelsa State Governor told the wrestlers: “You are carrying the banner of Nigeria to Tunisia, and so, you are going there as our athletes, as our diplomats. You’ll wrestle and you’ll conquer.

“For those of you have the opportunity, who have been so trained with all the facilities, I believe that you’ll go there and excellently perform and carry the flag of Nigeria high and return as those who will represent this country and Africa in the next Olympics.“And I believe that the God who has brought me as a miracle Governor will go with you as miracle wrestlers and athletes.”

Speaking on behalf of the wrestlers, Team captain Amas Daniel promised that the athletes will do their best in Tunisia.

“Bayelsa State Government has been so supportive to sports, in particular, wrestling,” the five-time African champion acknowledged.

“And we promise you that we will go there and we will give our 100% – gold medal, which means we will stand at the centre of the podium, not second, not third.”

The nine wrestlers will be hoping to join compatriot Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg), who already sealed her place at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics by virtue of winning a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.