Oborodudu, three wrestlers qualify for Rio Olympics

The female wrestlers got the slots to participate at Rio by virtue of qualifying for the finals in their weight categories. According to the laid down rules, the top two wrestlers in each weight category earn a qualification spot for their nation.

Oborodudu, competing in the semi-final of the 63kg women’s freestyle defeated Algeria’s Amina Benabderrahmane, in a no mercy contest of 10-0, to book a place in the final where she will meet Tunisia’s Hela Riabi. Riabi too beat Senegalese Anta Sambou 6-0.

In the other finals, Adeniyi, who beat Senegal’s Safietou Goudiaby 3-0 in 58kg, will slug it out with Tunisia’s Marwa Amri, who dashed the hope of Algeria’s Rabia Lamalsa of a qualification for Rio in 13-3, while Rueben, who dismissed Algeria’s Houria Boukrif 10-0, squares up with Egypt’s Enas Mostafa, the conqueror of Chad’s Demos Memneloum 8-0, in the final of the 69kg event. Mercy, competing in 48kg also qualified for the final.

However, Blessing Onyebuchi failed to scale through to the final in 75kg, as she narrowly lost 3-4 to Camerounian Annabelle Ali in the semi final yesterday. Ali will meet Egypt’s Samar Amer, who humbled Hajaratu Kamara 2-0.

The Olympics trials continue today as qualification for the semi-finals men’s freestyle will be decided.