Adekuoroye leads Nigeria’s quest for medals at Budapest 2018 World Wrestling Championship

World silver medalist, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Commonwealth medallists, Blessing Oborududu, Aminat Adeniyi and Blessing Onyebuchi will begin their quest for medals at this year’s World Wrestling Championships holding in Budapest, Hungary. The competition, which started on Saturday, will end on October 28.

According to the Nigeria Wrestling Federation’s (NWF) Media Officer, Emeka Dennar, both Oborududu and Onyebuchi arrived Budapest yesterday for the championships, while Adekuoroye, Adeniyi and Coach Purity Akuh, were expected to arrive in Hungary today aboard a Turkish Airline flight.

President of the NWF, Daniel Igali, had disclosed to The Guardian before his departure to Budapest last week that the country would only present four athletes that the federation is sure of winning medals and making the country proud at the championships.

“Odunayo Adekuoroye, Blessing Oborududu, Aminat Adeniyi and Blessing Oyebuchi are the only four female wrestlers that will represent the country at the World Wrestling Championship.

“We would have loved to go to there with 15 athletes if we had the funds. These are the ones we are sure have the best chance of picking medals because they are our best athletes,” he said.

Ifeoma Ihaenacho, a bronze medalist at the 2009, 2010 meets and Adekuoroye, a bronze in 2015 and silver in 2017 remain the only two athletes that have medals at the world level.

Eighth-time African champion and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Oborududu’s attempt to win a medal at the 2017 championships was dashed when she lost by a slim 7-8 margin to Colombian, Jackeline Castillo in the third-place bout.