Olympics: Nigerian wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye secures spot at 2024 Paris Olympics

Nigerian female wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye has clinched a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games slated to hold in Paris.

The world number 22 secured her qualification by winning a bronze medal at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.

Competing in the 57kg category, Adekuoroye triumphed over the world number 12, Elvira Kamaloglu of Turkey, with a score of 9-5 points during the bronze medal match.

This achievement marks a milestone for her, making her the first Nigerian wrestler to secure a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

It also represents her third consecutive Olympic appearance, having previously participated in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Games.

While Adekuoroye secured her spot, fellow Nigerian wrestlers Blessing Oborududu, the silver medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and Esther Kolawole faced challenges in their respective weight categories.

Oborududu lost to Russia’s Vusala Parfianovich in the women’s 68kg quarter-finals, while Kolawole was defeated by world number eight Grace Bullen of Norway in the women’s 62kg quarter-finals.

However, there is still a chance for Oborududu and Kolawole to qualify for the 2024 Olympics, provided their winner progress to the final in their respective events.

Nigeria is represented at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships by a contingent of six female wrestlers.

Meanwhile, the championship, which began on September 16, will conclude on September 24, 2023.