The Minister of Youth and Sports Development MR. SUNDAY DARE has showered encomium on wrestling sensation ODUNAYO ADEKUROYE for winning gold in the final of the 57kg class of the Mattei Pellicone Ranking Series tournament in faraway Rome, italy.
The Minister praised the former world no 1 wrestler for knocking out her opponent INDIAN ANSHU ANSHU 10-0 via technical superiority to clinch the gold in that category.
“I am not surprised really, she is a true representation of the never say die Nigerian spirit. She is always eager to win laurels for the country.
“Don’t forget she was adopted at the Adopt Initiative launch. She will get all the needed support to train and continue in that manner. We as Nigerians should be proud of her,” the Minister added.
MR. SUNDAY DARE also congratulated OBORUDUDU BLESSING for winning bronze in the 68kg category of the competition.
“I have no doubt in my mind she can get better. One day, it will be gold. I congratulate all the Nigerian wrestlers at the competition. They are all winners,” the Minister concluded.
Meanwhile, AMINAT ADENIYI in the 62kg, also defeated Italian SARA DA COL 8-4 in the qualification round and ELENA ESPOSITO 10-0 via superiority in the round of 16, before going down 8-2 to American KAYLA MIRACLE in the quarter-finals.
However, the world champion in beach wrestling BLESSING ONYEBUCHI (76kg) could not compete at the tournament as a result of ill-health.
World No. 3 ADEKUOROYE and OBORUDUDU, who is ranked No. 7 prior to the tournament in Rome, are expected to move up in the rankings as a result of their impressive showing.
