TOKYO 2020: Oborududu Claims Historic Wrestling Silver Medal For Team Nigeria

Published in local Written by  August 03 2021 font size decrease font size increase font size Media 0
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Blessing Oborududu on Tuesday entered the record books as the first Nigerian to win a wrestling medal at the Olympics, following a silver medal performance at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The 10-time African champion settled for silver after losing 4-1 to American world champion Tamyra Mensah Stock in the final of the 68kg weight class in an explosive contest that can easily pass for a classic.

 

 

Ukrainian Alla Cherkasova and Meerim Zhumanazarova – who like Obourududu, became the first wrestler from Kyrgyzstan to win an Olympics medal – both won bronze.

 

 

Oborududu went into Tuesday’s final at Makuhari Messe Hall as the underdog against the world champion Mensah Stock, who defeated her 6-1 in their last meeting at the 2019 World Championships in Kazakhstan. However, the Commonwealth champion was unfazed by the impressive credential of her opponent throughout the all-action finale.

 

 

With both wrestlers approaching the contest offensively, Mensah Stock got on the scoresheet first, with a take down for 2 points, while Oborududu pulled one point back, when she pushed the American off the red circle.

 

 

However, another 2-point score by the 28-year-old handed her a 4-1 lead at the end of the first round.

 

 

Both wrestlers failed to score further points in the second round, as Obourududu sealed her place in history with a silver medal.

 

 

Earlier, Oborududu’s compatriot Aminat Adeniyi lost 4-2 via pinfall to Ukraine’s Iryna Koliadenko, despite leading 4-0 in their round of 16 bout.

 

 

Commonwealth champion Adeniyi was hoping for Koliadenko to reach the final, so she could via for a bronze medal through the repechage.

 

 

But Koliadenko was stopped in the semi-final by Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan, who won 10-0 via technical superiority.

 

 

Meanwhile, second seed Odunayo Adekuoroye will begin her quest for an Olympic medal in the 57kg weight category on Wednesday.

 

 

 

The 3-time World championships medallist Adekuoroye will be up against Anastasia Nichita of Moldova in the round of 16 around 4.00am Nigerian time.

 

 

 

 

 

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