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By Peter Akinbo
Two-time Commonwealth champion and Olympic silver medallist, Blessing Oborududu, will be hoping to secure a Paris 2024 Olympic Games spot when she begins her campaign at the ongoing 2023 Pre Olympic Qualifiers in Belgrade, Serbia on Wednesday (today).
Her compatriot Odunayo Adekuoroye, who lost in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, will be determined to claim a bronze medal, which would seal her spot among the athletes at the Paris Olympics next year.
Her journey at the tournament began with a confident 9-7 points win over world No.4 Brazil’s Guilla Olivera in the round of 16 after she picked up the Brazilian and slammed her on the mat to win their 57kg bout at the World Wrestling Championships.
Adekuoroye, ranked 22, was then defeated by former world No.1 India’s Sarita Mor 6-4 in the quarter-finals.
The 29-year-old will fight in the repêchage (contest for a place in the final) on Wednesday to wrestle for bronze after Mor secured her spot in the final.
In the other quarter-final bouts of the day, Nigerians Mercy Genesis and Hannah Reuben lost their chance to qualify for the Olympics or vie for medals after their quarter-final opponents failed to advance to the final.
Genesis lost to Romania’s Emilia Grigore 8-4 in the women’s 50kg while African Championships silver medallist Reuben lost to Tatiana Renteria of Colombia 6-2 points in the women’s 76kg.
For Wednesday’s (today) games, 21-year-old Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Esther Kolawale competes at 62kg, while African champion Christiana Ogunsoya engages at 53kg.