COVID-19: I miss wrestling, Adekuoroye laments

Nigeria wrestling sensation Odunayo Adekuoroye admits she is missing wrestling and prays for its return as the world continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

With just over 10 months before the rescheduled Opening Ceremonies of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics on July 23, 2021, the two-time Commonwealth champion remains the only Nigeria wrestler to have booked her place at the showpiece.

In a chat with Sportinglife.ng, the world wrestling silver medalist believes the lifting of restrictions on outdoor communal (non-contact) sports in the country is a positive sign that contact sports will soon be considered too.

“We are all glad when we hear that the government has lifted the ban on non-contact sports. We believe that contact sports which include wrestling will also be given consideration any time from now. It has not been easy training alone because of the social distancing rules and regulations,” the five-time African champion said.

The World No.2 wrestler expressed appreciation to Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali and General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Worldwide, Dr. Daniel Olukoya for their support during the lockdown.

“This lockdown really affected a lot of things globally. During this lockdown I got lots of support from my federation especially from the president, Honourable Daniel Igali. He calls from time to time to know what I needed. I congratulate him on his new position as the commissioner for Youth and Sports in Bayelsa State. I appreciate our Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare for his support too.

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World bronze medalist at the Senior World Wrestling Championships, Odunayo Adekuoroye, has expressed happiness over her new status as the world’s number one, which came after her feats in the ranking series in Italy and Algeria. Adekuoroye, who is competing in the 57kg, had won gold medals at the world ranking series tournaments in Rome and Algeria where the 2020 African Wrestling Championships was held prelude to the wrestling event in Tokyo 2020 Olympics. . . Odunayo is a #leadinglady . . ✒ source: The Guardian. . . #leadingladiesafrica #womeninsports #odunayoadekuoroye #naijasports

A post shared by Leading Ladies Africa (@leadingladiesafrica) on Feb 17, 2020 at 12:05pm PST

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“I also got special support from my father in the Lord Dr. D.K Olukoya the general overseer of MFM. His words of admonition, prayers and he has given me assurance of supporting my Olympic medal quest immediately after the lockdown.

“We hope the Olympics will not be postponed again. We are just praying that God heal the world so that everything will come back to normal so that we can start preparing again,” the Ondo State-born wrestler told Sportinglife.ng.