Oborududu takes Azerbaija’s Manolova as wrestling begins today

• Ikhiede leads final squad

Ten-Time African Champion and Commonwealth gold medalist, Blessing Oborududu, will today take on Elis Manolova of Azerbaijan in her opening match of wrestling at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Oborududu’s duel with Manolova, which is match number 66, will see the two wrestlers slug it out for a place in the next round of the 66kg weight category in the women’s freestyle wrestling.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth gold medalist and also four-time African champion, Aminat Adeniyi will take to the centre stage tomorrow when she takes on the mat against a yet-to-be-known opponent in the 62kg of the women’s freestyle wrestling.

Medal hopeful and world number three, Odunayo Adekuoroye, is scheduled to enter the fray on Thursday in the 57kg weight category.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, said the athletes are in high spirit, adding that they are ready for the battles, following the start of the wrestling event of Tokyo 2020 yesterday.

“Oborududu starts tomorrow (today), while Adeniyi’s match is next day (Tuesday) and Adekuoroye match will be on August 5 (Thursday).

“The athletes are in good spirits. The venue of their competitions is one hour away from the Games Village. So, we are moving them to a hotel close to the competition venue today (yesterday).

“The athletes are well behaved…they are examples of what athletes should be. Whether they win medals here or not, we will remain immensely proud of them for the way they have conducted themselves here,” he stated.