By Albert Akota
Nigeria’s freestyle wrestler, Blessing Oborududu Tuesday won Team Nigeria’s second medal and first silver in Olympic Wrestling in history but this feat came with a price.
Unknown to millions of Nigerians and global supporters who watched Blessing Oborududu wrestle her way to win Silver in the 68kg free style women wrestling event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she actually defiled a nagging knee injury to become the first Nigerian to win medal in Wrestling.
Mr Daniel Igali, Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Nigerian Wrestling Federation confirmed the situation after the bout.
He noted that the tender knee injury has been there since the Olympic got underway two weeks ago.
“She Did her best. We have been treating that tender knee all through the tournament. Surprised she was able to take a full double attack.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare has assured that the knee will be fixed in any country of her choice when she gets back to Nigeria and settles down”.
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports added “Coming here to Tokyo I would have gladly taken a bronze from Blessing. This is a precious record breaking silver. I’m so so proud of her.
She claimed the coveted silver following a 4-1 defeat to her long term foe American Tamyra Mensah Stock.
Earlier on Monday, Ese Brume won Nigeria’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics after clinching bronze in Long Jump.
She became the second Nigerian Long Jumper to win medal at the Olympics after Chioma Ajunwa-Opara won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
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