Nigeria’s wrestling camp in Rio, Brazil, went wild in celebration, as training partners sent from Abuja arrived the venue of the Olympic Games.
Two male and two female wrestlers sparring partners were approved by the wrestling federation (NWF) to join Team Nigeria, after getting the clearance from the Sports Ministry.
The technical director NWF, Sir Damian Ohaike gave the names of the approved wrestlers as; Melvin Bobo (All Africa games gold medalist), Wariebi Hudson, Bisola Makanjuola (National Champion) and Ifeoma Nwoye (Commonwealth Gold medalist).
The President, Nigeria wrestling federation, Hon Daniel Igali said the arrival of their training partners will take the load off the coaches and allow the athletes focus on familiarity and trust.
Igali said since their arrival at the Olympics, the coaches, Purity Akuh, Victor Kodei and Joe Oziti have been sparring with the athletes.
The Olympic wrestling will commence on August 14 and Nigeria will be competing on Aug. 17 in the FW 48-58-69kg categories, August 18 in FW 53 and 63kg and August 21 in FS 65-97kg.
It will be recalled that the minister of sports, Solomon Dalung, approved the trip of the sparring partners to further aid the preparations of Team Nigeria wrestlers.
The Olympians in Brazil are female wrestlers; Mercy Genesis (48kg), Adekuoroye Odunayo (53kg), Aminat Adeniyi (58kg), Blessing Oborududu (63kg), Reuben Hannah (69kg), while the males are Amas Daniel (65kg) and Soso Tamarau (97kg).
Team Nigeria is however counting the days when the wrestling event as there are plans to mobilise support for the wrestlers and cheer them up when they are fighting to boost their chances of winning gold medals at the Games.
