Commonwealth Games: Nigeria wrestlers depart for Gold Coast

Nigeria wrestling team departed the shores of the country on Monday for the 2018 Commonwealth Games which runs from 4th to 15th April in Gold Coast, Australia, SportingLife.ng reports.

The delegation which left 6 pm via Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja aboard Emirates Airline to Dubai where they will connect Australia includes 12 wrestlers (6 male, 6 female), four coaches Damien Ohaike, Akuh Purity, Victor Kodei and Joe Oziti alongside the ten secretaries of federations going for the Games.

The female wrestlers that will fly the country’s flag at the quadrennial multi-sport event are: Mercy Genesis (50kg), Bose Samuel (53kg), Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg), Aminat Adeniyi (62kg), Blessing Oborodudu (68kg) and Blessing Onyebuchi (76kg).

The male wrestlers are: Welson Ebikewenimo (57kg), Amas Daniel (65kg), Amos Assizecourt (74kg), Melvin Bibo (86kg), Soso Tamarau (97kg) and Sinivie Boltic (125kg).

In a chat with SportingLife.ng, NWF Secretary, Ahmed Abdullahi who was among the delegation said the team is ready to surpass the feat recorded at the last Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland four years ago, where wrestling accounted for 12 of the 36 medals won by Team Nigeria.

“We are on our way to Australia now. The wrestlers are in high spirit for the games and are ready to do the country proud as usual. They were in camp for about three months in Yenegoa and Nigeria should expect the best from the team,” Abdullahi told SportingLife.ng just before boarding.