The participation of Nigeria in the ongoing 2017 World Wrestling
Championships has been hampered by the failure to convey some
participants to Europe.
Three of Nigeria’s six wrestlers for
the 2017 World Wrestling Championships were still in Lagos on Monday
when the competition officially opened in Paris, France, after Air
Maroc, which was scheduled to fly them, cancelled its trip.
Nigeria would be represented at the competition by six wrestlers
and two coaches. The team were unveiled to journalists at the
secretariat of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State, last week.
The wrestlers comprise 2015 World Championship bronze medallist,
Odunayo Adekuoroye, who will compete in the women’s 55kg, captain
Blessing Oborududu (63kg), Aminat Adeniyi (58kg), Mercy Genesis (48kg),
Daniel Amas (65kg men’s freestyle) and Emmanuel John (70kg).
The three wrestlers headed for Paris on Monday were Oborududu,
Adekuoroye and Adeniyi as well as coach Purity Akuh while Genesis, John
and Amas are still in the country.
Adekuoroye, Oborududu and 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medalist
Adeniyi will wrestle on Wednesday while their weight control holds on
Tuesday. Brazzaville 2015 All Africa Games gold medalist Genesis will
compete on Thursday, while Amas and John will take to the mat on
Saturday.
A Punch correspondent learnt that the team, who were initially
booked to depart the country on Sunday, could not leave as their flight
was cancelled by Air Maroc.
President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali, told a
correspondent that the airline did not notify the federation of the
cancellation and brought only a small aircraft to convey passengers,
thereby making the team and some other passengers to miss their flights.
However, Igali said the federation made last minute efforts to get
three of the wrestlers and a coach on an Ethiopian Airline flight on
Monday. He said that would allow the early competitors to make their
weight control while the other three wrestlers would join the team
later.
“It is very disappointing that Air Maroc cancelled the team’s
flight and failed to make room for them on the alternative flight they
had. I believe that if it were Moroccan athletes going to the world
championships, they would have created space for them,” he said.
“The team was scheduled to leave on Sunday and arrive in Paris
on Monday but they disappointed. We have to buy four new tickets after
running around to raise new funds at almost N1m for each person to
enable them meet up.”
Igali said the three wrestlers are expected to arrive Paris early
on Tuesday in time for their weight control while the federation would
continue to work on ensuring that the other three joined them.
“Ensuring that Nigeria is represented at this competition has
been very tough but we are still working to ensure that the others join
the team in Paris before their weight control and their events begin,” he said.
The Nigerian team were sponsored by the Bayelsa State Government and other individuals for the competition.
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