Odunayo Adekuroye has won Nigeria her first ever World Championship Silver medal in Wrestling on Wednesday in Paris.
Adekuoroye lost to cadet world champion Haruna OKUNO of Japan by 4-5 points in the 55kg women category.
In the opening minute, Adekuroye led Okuno by 1-0 but could not maintain the tempo.
Less than one minute to the end of the bout, the cadet champion countered Adekuroye to take the lead by 5-1 points before the Nigerian reduced the deficit by one with a step-out. But the clock ticked down on her chances and the score line ended 5-4 in favor of the Japanese.
The Ondo born wrestler who became the first Nigerian to reach the final at the world championships, won bronze in the competition two years ago in Las Vegas.
Blessing Oborududu in the bronze medal match lost to Colombia’s Jackeline Castillo by 7-8 points in the 63kg female category..
An elated President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, said for the first time in the history of Nigeria wrestling, two wrestlers made it to the medal table.
“This is the first time in the history of Nigeria wrestling that we have had someone in the finals, not to talk of two athletes wrestling for medals in the same tournament on the same day at the world championships.
“Well done girls. You have done so well,” he said.
It will be recalled that Ifeoma Iheanacho became the first Nigeria female wrestler to win a bronze medal at the World Wrestling Championship back to back in 2009 and 2010.