2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Aminat Adeniyi
believes Nigeria wrestler can become a force to be reckoned with in the sport
if given more exposure.
Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports that the two-time African champion made her debut at the 2017
Senior World Wrestling Championship in Paris, France where she lost 4-3 in the
quarter final of the 58kg category to Olympic fifth-place finisher Aisuluu
Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan.
The Ondo State-born athlete was one of the six Team
Nigeria wrestlers to the the championship where Nigeria won a silver medal
courtesy of Odunayo Adekuoroye in the female 55kg category.
In a chat with Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com, Adeniyi, while relishing her
performance at her first world wrestling championship where she was able to
beat European champion Grace Bullen of Norway 9-8, before overpowering Junior
world champion Altantsetseg Battsetseg of Mongolia 2-1, described it as a good
experience.
“Actually it was a little bit strange experience for me
because it was the first time I was going for a world championship. I never
knew the lady I defeated in my first fight is the European champion and I just
beat her. Even the second fight, my opponent was a World champion and I
defeated her. It was a good experience for me and the next world championship I
am will go all out because I see it as something I can achieve.
“One of the major problems we have is exposure. Taking
part in championships outside the country which the Federation President, Hon.
Daniel Igali is trying to give us, will afford us more experience. Those
wrestlers we meet at the world level know themselves because they usually meet
at major competitions. So when they meet a strange person they have that
confidence that they can easily beat such opponent. But if we have been meeting
them at championships, it will be a tough fight. Exposure is very important for
us,” Adeniyi noted.
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