Oborodudu sure to qualify for Rio 2016 at Algiers Olympic trials

Seven-time African champion in the female freestyle wrestling, Blessing Oborodudu, is sure she will qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil at the end of the qualifiers scheduled for between March 30 and April 4 in Algiers, Algeria.

The country’s contingent is expected to compete in five different weight classes in both the male and female categories to decide Africa’s representatives to the games.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth gold medalist, who said the training in camp has given her hope of qualification, added that her fitness level has been tremendous.

“By the grace of God, the training in camp has reawakened my hope of a qualification at the trials in Algeria. My fitness level right now has been okay, but what I need right now is to be in the right frame of mind to compete at the African championship,” she said.

The athlete, who was at the 2012 Olympics in London, said everything has been put in place to ensure that as many wrestlers, who attended the trials qualified for Rio.

“Our major threats may come from Tunisia and Egypt; the athletes from these countries are the major threat to our qualification for Rio.

I will be wrestling in the 63kg weight category, and all the athletes in my weight category are the ones that I know. It is good that we have Odunayo Adekuoroye in our midst…she has been of tremendous assistance to us. Having her around has been encouraging especially when you think of what she has been able to do and achieve on the international stage,” she added.

Oborodudu, who finished at the 16th position at the last Olympics, said the camp environment has been inspiring, and “all the female athletes too are challenged over Adekuoroye’s feat. We are all working hard to reach her level in order for us to scale through the hurdle of qualification.”

The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, recently assured the nation that at least five of the wrestlers departing for Algiers on March 29 for the trials would qualify for the Rio Olympics.