Preparations for the 2024 Olympics are gaining momentum, with four Nigerian wrestlers joining Odunayo Adekuoroye in securing qualification for the Games in Paris.
Odunayo Adekuoroye earned her spot in Paris last year after winning bronze in the women’s 57kg category at the World Championships in Belgrade.
Blessing Oborodudu, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist, secured her place at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 2-0 pinfall victory over Uilau I. TARKONG of Palau in the 68kg category.
Hannah Reuben, the World Military Champion in the 76kg category, earned her Olympic slot in Paris by defeating Amy YOUIN of Cote D’Ivoire 6-0, following her gold medal win at the African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Esther Kolawole also joined the Nigerian contingent heading to Paris after dominating Angelina RODRIGUES MIRANDA of Cape Verde with a 10-0 superiority score, adding to her successes at the African Games and African Championships.
Christiana Ogunsanya, the African Games champion in the 53kg category, secured her Paris Games qualification with a commanding 10-0 victory over Egyptian Shaimaa Atef Barakat MOHAMED.
However, Mercy Genesis narrowly missed out on the Paris Olympics after a 5-7 defeat to Nada Medani Ashour Abdalla MOHAMED of Egypt in the 50kg weight class.
The Nigerian male freestyle wrestlers will aim to secure Olympic slots on the final day of this window’s qualifiers.
The remaining Olympic slots will be determined at the 2024 World Qualification Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 9-12, offering three quota places per weight category.
