Blessing Oborodudu celebrates her gold medal at the last All African Games in Congo Brazzaville…
There was no celebration for her and other Nigerian wrestlers in Rio yesterday
Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has again maintained his stance that Nigeria will come back from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games with medals.
The games end on Sunday and the 86-man Team Nigeria is yet to win a single medal.
The team is in the semifinals of the 4x100 metres women relay and the bronze medal game of the football event.
Yesterday was a bad day for Team Nigeria’s wrestling squad as Nigeria’s biggest hopes in the event, Blessing Oborodudu and Odunayo Adekuoroye lost in their respective weight categories to exit the competition.
Oborodudu was beaten 3-1 by Soronzonbold Battsetseg of Mongolia in the women’s freestyle 63 kg, while Matson Sofia Magdalena of Sweden beat Adekuoroye 5-0 in the women freestyle 53kg. But it was not all gloom for Team Nigeria as the women’s 4x100m team comprising Gloria Asunmu, Blessing Okagbare, Madu and Agnes Osazuwa qualified for today’s semifinals of the women 4x100 metres by placing second behind Germany in the heat two of the event.
In coming second, the team posted its season’s best time of 42.55 seconds to make it to the last eight.
Speaking on Team Nigeria’s chances in the remaining events, Dalung said he was sure the country would still make the podium before the final day.
He said: “We are still making inroads in many events and I am optimistic that we will not leave Rio without a medal.
“But in the event we failed to win anything, we will also ask ourselves if we performed to our best ability. If we have given it our best and could not win medals, then it is alright. However, if our failure is because of some errors we committed, then people would be held accountable.”
- Guardian