Sports
Purity Praises NOC, Ministry, Igali On Oborududu’s Victory
Head Coach of Nigeria Women National Wrestling team, Purity Akuh, has hailed Commonwealth champion Blessing Oborududu for winning a historic silver medal at the just-concluded Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Last week, the 32-year-old Oborududu became the first Nigerian ever to win a wrestling medal at the Games, after she claimed silver in the 68kg class final against American World champion Tamyra Mensah Stock.
Oborududu is also the second African woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling after Tunisian Marwa Amri.
“Congratulations to Blessing Oborududu for winning the first-ever wrestling medal for Nigeria at the highest level of sport – the Olympics,” he wrote on his Facebook page. “She worked hard for this glorious moment, and I’m so happy and proud of her.
“And to the rest of my champions, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi and my wrestling baby Adijat Idris, I appreciate your efforts, consistency and cooperation at this Olympics. As the sports slogan goes, ‘we win some, we lose some’.
“The bottom line is we are coming back stronger! More so, you all worked hard to break this long jinx. Alongside Oborududu, we made this history together, that is what matters and you all remain my champions forever!”
He continued: “I want to also use this medium to appreciate the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Sunday Dare, for the fatherly care and support he has been giving us. We appreciate you, sir,” he added.
“I also thank the Nigeria Olympic Committee for always being there whenever we need them.
“Special thanks must go to the back bone of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Hon. Daniel Igali, our president. In reality, Nigeria wrestling is blessed to have him. His selfless service in kind, cash and prayer is unquantifiable.
His encouragement, push and support for the team fetched Nigeria it’s first-ever medal in wrestling at the Olympics.”
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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