From Spain to Germany: Nigerian wrestlers embark on final training camp ahead of 2024 Olympic games
The Nigeria wrestling contingent have departed Madrid, Spain for Germany, marking their final training camp before the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, France.
During their time in Madrid, Nigerian wrestlers competed in the Spanish Grand Prix, a pre-Olympic tournament, where Esther Kolawole in the 62kg category and Ogunsanya Christinah in the 53kg category secured bronze medals for Team Nigeria. Ogunsanya defeated her USA counterpart Brianne Gonzales with a convincing 10-0 victory, while Kolawole triumphed over Sweden’s Johanna Lindborg with an 8-0 score.
However, multiple-time world medalist Odunayo Adekuoroye faced a setback, losing on technical grounds (4-4) in the quarterfinals to Norway’s Othile Hole. Similarly, African champion Hannah Reuben lost her opening bout (0-3) to Colombia’s Tatiana R.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, female head coach Akuh Purity emphasized the positive aspects of the tournament. “It was a good outing for our girls in the sense that it offered us an opportunity to identify areas we need to improve on,” Purity stated. “It also provided the wrestlers with valuable competitive experience, although not under the same conditions as Paris. We now have a clear understanding of where we need to focus our efforts.”
Before their departure, Nigeria Wrestling Federation President Daniel Igali charged the team, led by Secretary General Mohammed H. Maigidansanma, to glean technical insights from their experiences in Madrid. This strategic approach aims to enhance their preparation for the upcoming challenges at the Olympic Games.
The training camp in Germany serves as the final stage for Team Nigeria to refine their skills and strategies before heading to Paris, where they will compete against the world’s best in Olympic wrestling.
