Nigeria’s Christiana Ogunsanya has secured the country’s first medal at the ongoing 2026 Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series in Mongolia after winning bronze in the women’s 53kg category.
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Ogunsanya delivered a spirited performance to defeat Mongolia’s Otgontuya Bayanmunkh 6-6 on criteria in the bronze medal bout on Friday, handing Team Nigeria its first podium finish at the prestigious United World Wrestling Ranking Series event.
The Nigerian wrestler showed resilience throughout the competition, battling against a strong international field that included top athletes from Asia and Europe.
Her bronze medal finish marks another important milestone for Nigerian wrestling on the global stage.
The women’s 53kg gold medal was won by DPR Korea’s Kyong Ryong Oh, who defeated Japan’s Moe Kiyooka 10-6 in the final, while Romania’s Andreea Ana claimed the second bronze medal in the category.
Ogunsanya’s achievement comes as Nigeria continues to strengthen its reputation in international wrestling competitions, especially in women’s wrestling where the country has consistently produced world-class talents.
At the Ulaanbaatar Open, India emerged as one of the standout nations in women’s wrestling, winning gold medals through Manisha in the 57kg category and Neha in the 59kg division, while DPR Korea also secured multiple titles.
The Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series is one of the major international wrestling tournaments sanctioned by United World Wrestling, attracting elite wrestlers from across the world as they prepare for upcoming global championships.
