African champion Christianah Ogunsanya has brought home Nigeria's first medal at the World Wrestling Ranking Series in Mongolia. She won a bronze medal in the women's competition on Friday, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Ogunsanya secured her spot on the podium by beating Mongolia’s Bayanmunkh 6-6 on technical criteria in the bronze medal match. This victory gave Team Nigeria its first medal of the tournament.
The multiple-time African champion started her campaign with an impressive 10-0 win against Mongolia’s Tsovoo Gankhuyag. But she faced a tough challenge next, losing 10-0 to Japan’s Kiyooka M.
Nigeria came close to winning another medal. Commonwealth champion Mercy Genesis lost 7-2 to Turkey’s Evin Demirhan in the bronze medal match.
After Ogunsanya’s win, Nigeria’s women’s wrestling coach, Purity Akuh, praised her performance. She said this result shows that Nigeria can compete with the best wrestlers in the world.
“First and foremost, I give thanks to Almighty God for this medal. This medal proves that Nigeria can compete with the world’s leading wrestling nations and elite athletes,” said Akuh.
She also mentioned that the wrestlers have gained valuable experience from this tournament. As their coach, she noted that she learned important lessons to help improve and prepare better for future competitions, especially for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Akuh expressed her gratitude to the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Bashir Adeniyi, for making it possible for the team to participate in this event.
Now, the focus will shift to the upcoming matches for Esther Kolawole and Hannah Damola Ojo. Team Nigeria is aiming for more podium finishes in Mongolia.
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