Idris Adesina
The three Nigerian wrestlers for the 2017 World Wrestling Championships, who were stranded in the country on Monday, finally left Lagos on Tuesday, our correspondent has learnt.
The competition began on Monday and Nigeria would thus be represented at the competition by six wrestlers and two coaches in Paris.
The wrestlers comprise 2015 World Championship bronze medallist, Odunayo Adekuoroye, who will compete in the women’s 55kg, captain Blessing Oborududu (63kg), Aminat Adeniyi (58kg), Mercy Genesis (48kg), Daniel Amas (65kg men’s freestyle) and Emmanuel John (70kg).
Genesis, John and Amas were stranded in Lagos on Monday after Air Maroc, the airline booked to fly the team to Paris, cancelled its flight.
The Nigeria Wrestling Federation however was able to get three of the members of the team – Oborududu, Adekuoroye and Adeniyi – as well as coach Purity Akuh on an Ethiopian Airline flight for Paris, leaving the others in the country.
President of the NWF, Daniel Igali, told our correspondent on Tuesday that the stranded wrestlers left the country aboard an Air Maroc flight to join the team in Paris.
“The other members of the team left Nigeria today (Tuesday) on an Air Maroc flight. They are scheduled to join the team on Wednesday,” Igali said.
“It is quite sad and tortuous that the wrestlers had to go through such kind of stress when they ought to have relaxed and be thinking about their matches. But we are glad that it is over for now and we hope it would not affect their performances.
“The experience the wrestlers went through could affect their performance, hence Nigerians should not expect too much from them although we are working hard to ensure that we return with medals to complete our success despite the odds.”
Nigeria has yet to win a gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships. The farthest the country has gone is a bronze medal won by Adekuoroye in 2015.
Igali said he was grateful to the Bayelsa State Government and other individuals who sponsored the team and rescued them from missing out on the competition.
Adekuoroye, Oborududu and 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Adeniyi will wrestle on Wednesday.
Brazzaville 2015 All Africa Games Gold medalist Genesis will compete on Thursday, while Amas and John will take to the mat on Saturday.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com
source: http://ift.tt/2v3L1O4
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J