2016 SPANISH GRAND PRIX: Oborududu leads five other wrestlers to Spain

By Akeem Lawal

Six Olympic-bound wrestlers on Thursday departed the shores of the country for the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix scheduled to hold at the Outer Hall of the National Sports Council, Calle Martín Fierro in Madrid, Spain from 8-10 July, 2016.

The Spanish Grand Prix of International Olympic Wrestling is the leading wrestling tournament in Spain which brings together over two hundred wrestlers, including Olympic and World Champions from twenty different countries.

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth gold medalists duo of Oduayo Adekuoroye (53kg) and Aminat Adeniyi (58kg), Seven-time Africa Champion, Blessing Oborududu (63kg), Africa freestyle champion, Amas Daniel (65kg), Africa bronze medalist, Soso Tamarau (97kg), and All Africa Games champion, Mercy Genesis (48kg) were accompanied by four officials including the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali to the competition which is also meant to prepare the wrestlers for the Rio Olympic Games.

While two freestyle wrestlers, Daniel and Tamarau will compete on the 9th, Adekuoroye, Genesis, Oborududu and Adeniyi will compete on the 10th of July. The team is expected back in Nigeria on the 12th of July.

Only 2016 Africa Championship, Hannah Reuben who has also qualified for the Olympics did not make the trip after failing to recover fully from a minor injury she sustained in training.

The Technical Director of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Sir Ohaike Damian informed Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com that Reuben will continue with her training in the country in order to be fully fit for the Olympics.

 “Since we couldn’t go to Romania and Canada, at least our wrestlers were able to make this trip thanks to the ministry. This will allow them to compete among the best in the world. All of us cannot go because of the non availability of fund. So myself, other coaches and other wrestlers including Reuben are still in Abuja camp, training,” Damian told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com on telephone on Thursday.

Among other the participants of this edition fighters are Ismael Borrero (CUB) GR-59 Kg, Current World Champion, Mijain Lopez Núñez (CUB) GR-130 Kg, Roman Vlasov (RUS), GR-75 Kg World and Olympic champion and Islam Magomedov (RUS) GR-97 Kg - World Championship 2015, Bronze.