Wrestling: Genesis and Kolawole win medals at Spanish Grand Prix 

African Champion, Mercy Genesis won a gold medal in the women’s 50kg category while World Junior Bronze medallist, Esther Kolawole won gold in the women’s 62kg category.

Nigeria Wrestlers won a total of three medals consisting of two gold and one bronze at the 2023 Spanish Grand Prix in Spain on Saturday night.

Olympic Silver medallist, Blessing Oborududu won a bronze medal in the women’s 68kg weight class.

In the women’s 50kg final, Mercy Genesis dismantled Jacqueline Mollocana of Ecuador by 15 to 2 points (Technical Superiority). Earlier, Genesis defeated the duo of Erin Golston (USA) and Veronika Rjabolova of North Macedonia  10-0 (Technical Superiority) in the semi-final and quarterfinal respectively.

2023 African Silver medallist Esther Kolawole (62kg) fought hard to beat Ortega Ashlynn (USA) by 7-0 points in an entertaining final. Kolawole defeated Marisol Nugent (USA) 10 to 0 points (Technical Superiority) in the quarterfinal afterward overcoming Miki Rowbottom of Canada 7 to 2 points in the semi-final match.

13x African Champion, Blessing Oborududu (68kg) narrowly lost her quarterfinal match to Olivia Bacco of Canada 3 to 2 points which put the highly accomplished wrestler in the Repacharge match. Oborududu bulldozed Paulina Danisz of Poland 10 to 0 points in a one-sided repacharge; eventually winning a bronze medal by beating Katerina Lange 10 to 0 points.

The President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Hon Daniel Igali said the Spanish Grand Prix is a platform for the wrestlers to prepare for this year’s World Championship in Serbia next September.

Igali said Mercy Genesis, Esther Kolawole and Blessing Oborududu will compete in Hungary next week before attending the annual Governor Diri National Wrestling Classic.

The Olympic Champion said, “The Spanish Grand Prix is a good platform for the athletes to get ready for the world championships coming up in Serbia in September. 

“We have identified about 8 athletes who should be given these opportunities but funding constraints meant only 3 could trend. I am proud of the results accomplished in this tournament so far.

“Next weekend, they will compete in Hungary before returning to Nigeria to compete in the Governor Diri National Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa from 1st to 8th August, 2023”, he added