Thursday, 5 May 2016

OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: NWF to petition IOC, UWW over Onyebuchi's visa denial


NIGERIA Wrestling Federation has revealed plans to write protest letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW) following the refusal of the Turkish embassy in Abuja to grant visa to Blessing Onyebuchi who is to represent the country at the 2016 World Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament 2 scheduled to hold between 6–8 May 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey.


Onyebuchi and head coach Nigeria Wrestling Federation ( NWF), Victor Kodei were earlier scheduled to depart the shores of the country on Wednesday night for the Istanbul event which is the final qualification tournament for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. But the duo were denied visa by the Turkish embassy despite all the efforts by the wrestling federation to provide funds for their trip.

In text messages sent to SportingLife on Thursday, NWF President, Hon Daniel Igali expressed frustration at the development, promising to inform IOC and UWW about the development.  He described it as a big setback for the federation after sourcing for the funds.

"I am just leaving the Turkish Embassy in Abuja after two days of trying without success to get visas for Onyebuchi Blessing 75kg female wrestler and Coach Victor Kodei who were scheduled to attend the last Olympic Wrestling qualifying tournament in Istanbul from 6-8 May.

"This has sadly brought to an end all the efforts of an athlete who worked so hard for an opportunity to attempt to qualify for the Olympics and become an Olympian for her country.

"That Turkey of all countries can deny visas to Nigerian athletes after fulfilling all laid down protocols is humiliating. I will be sending a strongly worded protest letter to both the UWW and IOC regarding this Olympic disenfranchisement," Igali said.


Seven wrestlers have already secured slots for the Rio Games and the NWF had hoped to increase the numbers with Onyebuchi 's participation at the last Olympic qualification tournament in Turkey.

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