Nigerian Minister Rallies Behind Blessing Oborududu for Olympic Gold in Women’s Wrestling

Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has passionately urged Blessing Oborududu to secure gold in the Women’s Wrestling event at the ongoing 2024 Olympic Games. This call to action follows Oborududu’s impressive performance on Monday, where she advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s freestyle 68kg wrestling event.

“Blessing Oborududu has shown incredible resilience and skill throughout her journey. After winning silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she has the experience and determination to go for gold this time. We believe in her abilities and are cheering her on to make Nigeria proud once again,” Enoh stated.

Oborududu’s path to the semifinals was marked by a commanding 6-2 victory over France’s Koumba Larroque in a fiercely contested quarterfinal. Despite trailing initially, Oborududu showcased her resilience and skill, overcoming the home favorite in front of an enthusiastic French crowd at the Champ-de-Mars Arena.

Minister Enoh assured Oborududu that the entire nation stands firmly behind her in her quest to improve on the silver medal she won in Tokyo. “Blessing, you have already made history and inspired countless Nigerians with your strength and perseverance. Now, it’s time to aim for the gold medal. The entire nation is behind you, and we are confident that you have what it takes to reach the top of the podium. Go out there and give it your all; we are with you every step of the way,” he added.

The upcoming semifinal match at 8 pm on Monday will see Oborududu face Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan. This encounter is a rematch of their bout at the Yasar Dogu Championship in 2022, where Oborududu emerged victorious with a 3-2 win, clinching the gold medal.