RIO 2016 OLYMPICS: Wrestling federation targets two more slots in Turkey

PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Hon Daniel Igali has revealed that the federation is seeking to increase the number of wrestlers that will represent the country at Rio 2016 Olympic Games after picking six more slots at the just concluded Africa /Oceania Olympic qualifier in Algiers, Algeria.

Speaking with SportingLife at the team’s arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday, Igali said that the duo of Blessing Onyebuchi (75kg) and Melvin Bibo (74kg) who won bronze medals in Algeria still have the chance of joining the Olympic train if they attend the last qualifier scheduled for May 6–8 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Mercy Genesis (48kg), Aminat Adeniyi (58kg), Blessing Oborududu (63kg), Hannah Reuben (69Kg), Daniel Amas (65K) and Soso Tamara (97kg) joined Odunayo Adekuoroye who had earlier qualified by winning a bronze medal in the 53kg weight class at the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas, USA.

“Blessing Onyebuchi and Melvin Bibo have the opportunity of qualifying for the Olympics at the last qualifying tournament in Turkey if we can secure the funds.

"It now up to the National Sports Commission, our direction and how we will move forward from now will be dependent on funds available to us. The team will go on break and will resume camping in about two weeks,” he told SportingLife.

While commending the wrestlers for their performance in Algeria, Igali said, "Apart from the glory going to the Almighty,  the praises should go to the coaches and the young men and women in the Arena who have worked so hard over the last few years to get this far. We are merely cheer leaders."