Olympic Qualifier: Kolawole begins campaign against Chykhradze

By Akeem Lawal 

AFRICAN wrestling champion Esther Kolawole will on Friday begin her campaign at the ongoing World Olympic Games Qualifier in Sofia, Bulgaria against World Wrestling Championship bronze medalist, Iryna Chykhradze of Ukraine.Olympic Qualifier: Kolawole begins campaign against Chykhradze.

Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports that more than 400 wrestlers from 84 countries are campaigning at the World Qualifier in a final hope to qualify their nation for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Each of the 18 categories will have two tickets up for grabs, with semifinal winners securing their spots.

In a chat with Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com before departing Nigeria for Bulgaria on Tuesday, Kolawole expressed confidence in picking a ticket to the Tokyo Games.

“I am very confident because I think I have trained very well for the past few months and I’m optimistic that I am going to do well at the championship,” she said.

Going for her first international tournament, the Ondo State-born wrestler said she doesn’t feel any pressure as she takes on the 2019 European Championship silver medalist.

“No, I’m not feeling any pressure at all. I believe I have trained well and I just have to go there and give all that I have against any of my opponents. Giving out my best, I’m going to expect nice result.

“I think I can survive because to some extent, my wrestling is not that bad and if I go there with everything that my coach have been teaching, with the way I’ve been wrestling at home , I confident about achieving my target.

Four out of the five wrestlers that have qualified for the Tokyo Games are women and Kolawole said she is inspired by the achievements.

“Seeing that we already have four female wrestlers (Odunayo Adekuoroye, Blessing Oborududu, Aminat Adeniyi and Adijat Idris) that have qualified is another encouragement for me that if those people can qualify, so do I. I can also qualify,” Kolawole said.