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Nigeria’s Odunayo Adekuoroye has been named the best female wrestler at the 2019 African Senior Wrestling Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia, following her impressive showing on her way to successfully defending the gold medal she won a year ago in Port Harcourt.
The 2017 world silver-medalist and back-to-back Commonwealth champion made light work of her Cameroonian opponent, Esoombe Tiako, winning their 57kg final in just 29 sec via pinfall to record her 5th African title.
On her way to final, Adekuoroye overpowered Jeannette Sambou (Senegal) 4-0 via pinfall before taking out Chaimaa Aouissi (Algeria) 12-0 via technical superiority to move into the semi finals. In the last four, she also recorded another superiority win, outclassing home favourite Dorssaf Gharssi 10-0.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria once again reigned supreme in Women Wrestling at the 2019 African Senior Wrestling Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia, claiming 5 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals in 10 categories. Blessing Oborududu (68kg) recorded her 9th consecutive African title after overcoming Anta Sabou of Senegal 10-0 (via superiority).
Such was the dominance of the Bayelsa State-born athlete that she did not concede a single point in three bouts on her way to another gold medal.
Wrestling sensation and 2017 World silver medalist Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) needed just 29sec to dismantle her Cameroonian opponent Essombe Tiako in the final via pinfall, and claim her 5th African title, while Sunmisola Balogun (65kg) and Blessing Onyebuchi (76kg) also won gold medals after respective triumphs in the finals against Yvette Zie (Burundi) and Mona Ahmed (Egypt).
Team Nigeria’s silver medals came from Hannah Reuben (72kg) and Aminat Adeniyi (62kg), with Rosemary Nweke (53kg) and Ifeoma Nwoye (59kg) accounting for the 2 bronze medals.
Unfortunately, youngster Esther Kolawole (55kg) could not compete as a result of a knee injury she sustained in training a day before the final, thereby missing out of a chance to win a medal.
In the Greco Roman event, Nigeria’s Emmanuel Nworie (72kg) lost his African title, as he settled for a bronze medal after beating Lamjed Maafi (Tunisia) 10-9 in the 3rd place match.
Overall, Team Nigeria won Women’s Wrestling at the Championships with 195 points ahead of 2nd placed Tunisia with 177 points, while Egypt finished 3rd with 160points.
It is the 3rd year in a row that Nigeria is winning Women’s Wrestling at the African Championships.
