The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) has announced a strong team of 10 wrestlers that will fly Nigeria’s flag at the Africa/ Oceania Olympic Games qualifiers in Hammamet, Tunisia, which is scheduled to run from 2nd to 4th April, 2021. The team, which comprised of five male and female wrestlers apiece, is headlined by former World No. 2 and reigning Commonwealth champion Blessing Oborududu (68kg). In the Women Wrestling style, the 10-time African champion will be joined by fellow Commonwealth gold medalist Aminat Adeniyi (62kg), Beach Wrestling world champion Blessing Onyebuchi (76kg), 2018 African Championship gold-medalist Bose Samuel (53kg) and youngster Adijat Idris (50kg). Men’s National Team captain and 5-time African champion Amas Daniel (65kg) will be competing in the Freestyle event alongside former African champions Soso Tamarau (97kg), Ekerekeme Agiomor (86kg) and Ebikwenimo Welson (57kg), as well as 4-time African Championships gold-medalist John Ogbonna (74kg). In Hammamet, the wrestlers will be led by three coaches; Purity Akuh, Victor Kodei and Happiness Burutu, as they vie for Olympic tickets at the postponed Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan. Former World No. 1 Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) is the only Nigerian wrestler to have qualified for the Tokyo Games – a feat she achieved by claiming bronze at the 2019 World Championships in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan. Team Nigeria, who have been intensifying preparations for the qualifiers in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, will depart the country for Tunisia on 30th March via a Turkish Airline flight.
Rivers athletes hit camp ahead Edo 2020
Rivers state has moved to perfect strategies on how to have a good outing at the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival which kicks off early next month. Hint to this effect was dropped today by the Rivers state Permanent Secretary in charge of Sports, Honor Sirawo. Sirawo who is the President of the nation’s sportswriters body, SWAN told Catholic Herald that Rivers athletes would move into close camping this weekend and would from there storm Benin for the festival which is billed to run from April 2-14. “Our athletes are going into camp today and this would be the final phase of our build up ahead of the games,” Sirawo said. He commended the state’s sports loving governor, Nyesom Wike who he noted has given the sports ministry full support ahead of the sports festival. “You know we have a governor in Nyesom Wike whose love for sports is unparalleled. He has given us all the needed support and we hope to say thank you to him by doing well in Benin,” Sirawo said.
GOtv Boxing Night 22: Real One, Baby Face Storm Mojisola Ogunsanya Gym
Ahead of their World Boxing Federation (WBF) title fights coming up at GOtv Boxing Night 22 on Friday, April 2, Rilwan “Babyface” Babatunde and Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu, have arrived the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Boxing Gym to step up preparations. The two boxers are scheduled to face Tanzanian and Ghanaian opponents, who are expected in the country on 25 March to enable them undergo the mandatory quarantine period for travellers to the country. Baby Face, the West African Boxing Union (WABU) welterweight champion, will take on Mkalekwa Salehe Omari of Tanzania for the WBF International welterweight title, while Oladosu will take on Ghana’s Emmanuel “Afuko Addo” Quartey for the WBF Intercontinental super featherweight title. While training at the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Boxing Gym on Tuesday, the two boxers confirmed their readiness to ensure that they send their opponents back to their native countries in defeat. “I have been working very hard for this and all I have in mind is nothing but victory. I have been preparing well and now is the time to make my dream come true,” said Oladosu. The soft-spoken Baby Face also spoke in the same vein. “The gym is a very good place to tune up for this fight. There are no distractions and we have everything to make us focus. I’m 100 per cent ready and go to go,” he said. The boxers were also full of appreciation to the management of the gym and most especially to Chief Adewunmi Ogunsanya, who established the gym in memory of his wife. The stated that winning the two prestigious titles will be a way of justifying the investments made in boxers. GOtv Boxing Night 22 will feature other top Nigerian boxers like Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju, Sikiru Shogbesan, Taiwo Olowu among others.
