Tokyo 2020: Nigeria Guaranteed A Medal, As Wrestler, Oborududu Qualifies For Final

By Akinwale Kasali

The hope of Team Nigeria winning a medal at the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Olympics received a huge boost as Wrestler, Blessing Oborududu, booked a place in the final of the Wrestling event. That has put smiles on the faces of Nigerians and embattled Minister of Sport, Sunday Dare.

Oborodudu’s qualification for the final guarantees Team Nigeria a silver or gold medal.

Oborududu defeated her Mongolian opponent,  Battsetseg Soronzobold 7-2 to reach the final of the 68kg.

Nigeria faces world powerhouse, United State of America’s Tamyra Mensah-Stock in the final.

On her way to the final, the impressive Oborududu made light work of Elis Manolova in the round of 16, thrashing the Azerbaijans 13-2 via technical superiority, before securing a hard-fought 3-2 win against Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan in the quarter-finals.

After a cagey opening moment in her semi-final bout against the 2015 World champion Soronzonbold, the energetic Oborududu burst into action, taking down the 31-year-old Mongolian thrice to eventually win the first round.

A late fight back saw Soronzonbold score two points, but Oborududu was never going to be denied a place in history as she ran out with a comfortable 7-2 win.

The second seeded Oborududu will renew her rivalry with old foe Mensah, as they battle for the ultimate prize – gold medal.

Oborodudu and Mensah have been rivals and both met at the 2019 World championships in Kazakhstan, with the American getting the better of Oborududu on her way to the title.

Reports quote the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, who has supervised Nigeria’s most disastrous and scandalous Olympic outing, as being excited over Oborududu’s outing.

“The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, could not hide his joy over the feat achieved by Oborodudu as she described her as a blessing to Nigeria.

“This is a real Blessing to Nigeria. Thank you Blessing for wiping away the pain of the near misses recorded in other events. Nigerians are proud of you.

“The display is typical of the never say die Nigerian spirit. Keep the tempo going until we reach the ultimate which is the gold. Don’t give up the fight until you re-write Nigerian Olympics history with a gold medal in the kitty.”

Meanwhile, another Wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye, Ese Brume and Grace Nwokocha are still in the running for medals.

Brume have booked a place in the finals of the  Long Jump Event slated for Tuesday, 3rd August, 2021.

Dare also commended Tobi Amusan’s fourth-place finish at the women’s 100m hurdles final on Monday.

He said, “Tobi Amusan still remains one of Nigeria’s greatest competitors in athletics. She gave a good account of herself. We celebrate her exploits.

“The important thing to note is that many of our top athletes made it and are still making it to the finals in many events particularly here at the Olympics; a competition of huge magnitude where winners are separated in milliseconds.

“This in itself is an achievement and proof that we are in the committee of the best in respect to many sports in the world.

“This is a new and young generation that will be world beaters anyhow.”