Sport  |  Athletics  

Adekuoroye excited over new world ranking

By Samuel Ifetoye |   15 February 2020   |   3:14 am  

Odunayo Adekuoroye. Photo: KONBINI

Wants More Support Ahead Tokyo Olympics

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.

Speaking with The Guardian during to the week, the two-time Commonwealth gold medalist freestyle wrestler stated that her latest ranking would keep her abreast of the challenges that await her at the Olympic Games in August.

“First, I want to express my appreciation to God for this new status. I know everything that happens is never behind Him. I want to say I feel so excited and happy I won my sixth African title.

“This will only make me sit up for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. It will make me train harder because every eye will be on me now as the number one wrestler in the 57kg,” she said, adding more funds and support would be needed to secure preparatory fights against her opponents before the Olympics.

“I will need more financial assistance and some supports in protocols like securing visas to travel for training camps, training competitions and also scouting of some of my strong opponents. These are necessary in order not to hinder my quest for my first medal at the Olympics in Japan,” she stated.

It will be recalled that Adekuoroye and Blessing Oborududu (68kg) as both rose to world Numbers one and two respectively in the global rankings released by the world wrestling body last week.

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