Monica Iheakam
Nigeria wrestlers will today take to the mat at the Carrara Sports Arena 1 in Gold Coast, Australia as action begins in the Freestyle and Women’s wrestling .
The wrestlers made up of six male and six female will compete with over 100 wrestlers from 19 Commonwealth nations for honors.
Headlining 86kg is Nigeria’s Melvin BIBO who is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. This is Bibo’s second appearance at the Commonwealth Games. In his first appearance, he finished as a bronze medalist at 74kg.
The duo of returning champions in Odunayo Adekuoroye, 57kg and Aminat Adeniyi 62kg, will look to pick up where they left off at the 2018 African Championships where they were crowned champions.
At 53kg,2018 African champion Bose Samuel, currently ranked No. 6 in the world is the frontrunner to win the gold medal.
Samuel will contend with the likes of returning champion Babita Kumari from India, 2017 world team representatives in Carissa, Jane Holland from Australia and Canada’s Diana Weicker .
Olympian and African champion, Soso Tamaru will clash with two other Africans Martin Erasmus from South Africa and Cedric Tchouga of Cameroon in the 97kg weight class.
At 57kg, the veteran and two-time finalist, Ebikewenimo WELSON (NGR) returns to his third Commonwealth Games with hopes of avenging his loss in the African championship finals against South Africa’s Louwrens Combrinck.
A potential top-5 match-up could be brewing at 65kg with 2014 runner-up and this year’s Asian bronze medalist, Bajrang and Amas DANIEL (NGR), 2018 African champion.
Ebikewenimo Welson is making a come back with hopes of bettering his performance at the Glasgow 2014 Games.
Current world No. 4 Blessing Oborodudu will face the real test in her new weight class 68kg and may likely battle world no 2 Danielle Lappage from Canada for the gold medal bout. This will be Oborududu’s third time wrestling at the Commonwealth Games. She’s finished with a medal twice, but never won the gold.
Freestyle Men
Ebikewenimo Welson 57kg
Amas Danile 65kg
Ebimienfaghe Amos 74kg
Melvin Bibo 86kg
Soso Tamaru 97kg
Sinivie Boltic 125kg
Women
Mercy Genesis 50kg
Bose Samuel 53kg
Odunayo Adekuoroye 57kg
Aminat Adeniyi 62kg
Blessing Oborodudu 68kg
Blessing Onyebuchi 76kg