OLYMPICS: Igali laments exit of female wrestlers

.Says we’ve leant from Rio experience

.As male wrestlers compete on Sunday

By Akeem Lawal

PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Hon. Daniel Igali believes the country has learnt in a hard way that better preparations are prerequisite for winning medals at international events such as the Olympics.

Igali stated this after all her five female wrestlers failed to get medals in the Wrestling event of the on-going Rio Olympics in Brazil, coupled with the fact that Team Nigeria is yet to win any medal so far at the Games.  

Mercy Genesis, Hannah Reuben and Aminat Adeniyi were all eliminated from the preliminary rounds on Wednesday while Blessing Oborodudu and Oduanyo Adekuoroye crashed out of their respective categories in the round of 16 matches on Thursday at Carioca Arena.

The female wrestlers

 “I am gutted! In sporting climes, I am emotionally in a very low place. I have learnt not to internalize sporting results, but this one beats me. If I was a betting person, I would have wagered thousands of dollars on at least one of my five female athletes making it out of Rio with a medal. But that was not to be,” Igali posted on his Facebook page after the heartbreaking loss of the wrestlers.

“Blessing Oborududu lost to Seronzobold (MGL) 1-1 by criteria and Adekuoroye Odunayo lost to Mattsson (SWE) by fall.

“I especially had very high hopes for Aminat, Blessing and Adekuoroye. And for good reason. Apart from the no1 and 2 top ranked wrestlers in her class, Adekuoroye had competed against all of the top 7 wrestlers only losing to the current Olympic champion Maroulis on criteria 6-6. She had been dominant against all others. At 58kg Aminat Adeniyi had beaten both Malik Sakshi and Amri Marwa eventual Olympic bronze medalists from India and Tunisia.

Soso Tamarau and Amas Daniel

“Blessing Oborududu beat Larionova, the current bronze medalist from Azerbaijan 10-0 and had a 1-1 match against Mamachuk the current silver medalist from Belarus just a month ago in Spain. I had every reason to be optimistic.

“But this is the Olympics! It is a competition like no other. A place where you lose your nerves and get exhausted before you even step on the mats. When you lose your first match and people who beat you do not advance to the finals, you are left feeling the way I am feeling. While there are one or two matches I feel we could have won on a normal day, I don't blame the wrestlers because I know they did not go out on the mats to lose and are probably in a worse state than I am. They wanted to win more than I did, I am sure.

“We will do a post mortem and carry on with preparations for the future. That is if we are ready to learn and improve as a nation. Many thanks for all of you who have stood by this team and supported us.

Igali with some wrestlers

“My very sincere apologies that we did not meet your expectations. I know you all had high hopes of at least a medal from the female wrestling team. I don't have any doubt that when we prepare better, compete often and our confidence levels match our abilities, we will sing a new song.

“On a happy note, congratulations to Erica Wiebe for winning a gold medal in the 75kg Class. You showed real zeal, a statement of purpose and desire to be Canada's third Olympic champion in Wrestling. That's the spirit.

“For now though, I may need a few days to recover. I am emotionally and mentally winded,” Igali said.

Meanwhile, the two remaining male wrestlers; Amas Daniel and Soso Tamara would take to the mat on Sunday, the day of the closing ceremony.