Nigeria’s female wrestling sensation, Odunayo Adekuoroye, has confirmed her readiness to compete at the Rio Olympics in August.
The Commonwealth gold medalist, who is back in Nigeria after competing at the Indian Professional Wrestling League, said winning Gold with her team, Revanta Garuda and emerging the best wrestler has placed her in a a good position as she looks forward to the Olympics.
“ The experience was splendid because most of the world wrestlers I felt I was afraid of are the ones afraid of me now and I thank God. I had bouts with them and defeated them all. Now I have full confidence any time any day I meet them that I will conquer them.
Adekuoroye sealed her place in the Olympics after winning bronze at the World Championships in Las Vegas and she believes she is more than ready for the event in Rio.
“Now as for the Olympic Games Proper, I am very ready if Nigeria can send me to go and represent her, I am very ready and I believe God is on my side”.
The Ondo state born athlete says featuring at the Indian League excites her but admits nothing compares to representing her country at international tournaments.
“ I signed a two year contract with an Indian Pro-wrestling club with the clause that I must come and represent my fatherland at anytime I am called upon to do so, especially this Olympic Games is more important to me than the club. That if they cannot allow me to come I will quit the club instantly and they agreed that after the Olympics that I should come back”
After witnessing the level of development wrestling has attained in Indian, Adekuoroye charged sports administrators to embark on developmental programmes that will drive followership, organize competitions and provide support for athletes.
“There are other good Nigerian wrestlers back home here. But the problem is dearth of competitions to keep the wrestlers in shape. If I didn’t go for that World Championship and compete in India, I wouldn’t have the experience I now have. I believe if other wrestlers had the opportunity as I had, they too would have done well and qualify for the Olympics too, but then there is another opportunity for them to qualify.”
While hoping that more Nigerian Wrestlers will qualify for the Rio Olympics, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation has outlined several preparatory programmes for Odunayo Adekuoroye which includes a training camp in Canada.