Aminat Adeniyi and Melvin Bibo capped a memorable outing for Team Nigeria in the wrestling event, winning gold and silver respectively on the final day of competition at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
In the final of the 62 kg weight class, Adeniyi, 24, made it back-to-back Commonwealth titles, with victory over Canada’s Michelle Fazzari, who retired in the final with an injury while trailing 4-0.
The 4-time African champion dismantled Cameroon’s Berthe Etane Ngolle 11-0 (via technical superiority), Sakshi Malik of India 6-3, before overpowering New Zealand’s Tayla Ford 11-0 (via technical superiority) to advance to the final.
The win took Team Nigeria’s gold medal tally in wrestling to three, following triumphs by Odunayo Adekuoroye and Blessing Oborududu a day earlier.
Fighting in the men’s 86 kg weight category, 41-year old Bibo settled for a silver medal after losing to Pakistan’s Muhammad Inam, 6-0 (by points) in the final.
Bibo, a bronze medalist four years ago in Glasgow, was equally impressive en route the final, defeating David Conteh of Sierra Leone 4-0 (by fall) before thrashing Syerus Eslami of England, 10-0 (via technical superiority) in the semi final.
Following their impressive results, Team Nigeria eventually won 8 medals (3 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze) in wrestling, out of a possible 12.