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Support from Olukoya, Dickson, others helped my success, says Adekuruoye

By Samuel Ifetoye
30 August 2017   |   4:22 am
Silver medallist at the just concluded United World Wrestling Championships (UWWC) in Paris, France, Odunayo Adekuoroye has attributed her success at the championship...

Odunayo Adekuoroye

Silver medallist at the just concluded United World Wrestling Championships (UWWC) in Paris, France, Odunayo Adekuoroye has attributed her success at the championship to the support she got from the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire Ministry (MFM), Daniel Olukoya and Bayelsa State Governor, Seriaki Dickson, among others.

Adekuoroye lost the opportunity to become the first Nigerian to win a World Wrestling Championship gold medal when she was narrowly beaten (4-5) by Japan’s Haruna Okuno in the final of the women’s senior 55kg last week in Paris.

The athlete, who won a bronze medal at the 2015 edition in United States, told The Guardian on Tuesday   that she owed her victory in Paris to the grace of God, as well as the efforts of Pastor Olukoya, Governor Dickson and the President of the Wrestling Federation, Mr. Daniel Igali.

“I am so glad for this medal. It is not only about me winning the medal but also as the first Nigerian to be at the finals. It was a dream come true and I believe it was God that gave it to me.

“It was not easy, but I trained very hard to be able to get to this point of my career. I was at three different competitions before the world championships all due to the efforts of my spiritual father, Pastor Olukoya, who supported me spiritually and physically.

“I also want to appreciate the governor of Bayelsa, who contributed a lot towards my achievement in Paris. Then to someone who I now see as a father figure. I really want to thank the president, who also turned out to be my coach, all in the effort for me to achieve something at every international meet. My coach too, Mr. Purity Akuh, was wonderful. My standing here was simply a testimony and the contributions of these great men,” she said.

Nigeria’s other leading wrestler, Blessing Oburududu narrowly missed the bronze medal after losing to Jacqueline Castillo in the 63kg weight category’s third place match.  But NWF president, Dan Igali believes the Nigerian was robbed.

According to Igali, “Oburududu wrestled her heart out. In my mind, she won the bronze medal because I believed she was robbed and we submitted our protest as regards the officiating.

“I am so excited that we came back from the tournament with an eight place, fifth place and second place finish. This is definitely unprecedented in our history and we can only but do better next time.”

A total of six wrestlers, four females and two males, Adekuoroye, Blessing Oburududu (63kg), Mercy Genesis (48kg), Amina Adeniyi (58kg), Amas Daniel (65) and John Emmanuel (70kg) hoisted the nation’s flag at the championship. Also in the contingent were some officials, including coaches Akuh and Victor Kodeh and Igali.

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