Team Nigeria concluded its campaign at the United World Wrestling (UWW) Ranking Series tournament in Mongolia on a positive note, securing two additional medals on the final day to finish with an impressive haul of three medals from four participating athletes.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Athletes Hit Prime Form Ahead of Commonwealth Games Trials in Lagos
Sports247 reports that the Nigerian contingent saw Damola Hannah Ojo claim a silver medal, while Esther Kolawole earned bronze, joining Christianah Ogunsanya on the podium and highlighting Nigeria’s growing strength in international wrestling.
Ojo enjoyed a dominant run to the final, beginning her campaign with a commanding 10-0 superiority victory over Mongolia’s Tuvshinjargal Tarav.
The Nigerian wrestler continued her impressive form in the semifinals, defeating India’s Priya 5-1 to secure a place in the gold medal match.
However, her quest for the top prize ended in the final, where she came up against India’s Kajal Kajal. Despite a spirited effort, Ojo was defeated 8-0 and had to settle for a well-deserved silver medal.
Kolawole’s route to the podium was equally impressive and included one of the standout victories of the competition.
She opened with a dominant 10-0 triumph over China’s Huan Yang before producing a major upset against world number one Amina Tandelova of Russia.
The Nigerian delivered a superb performance to defeat the highly rated wrestler 6-0, underlining her quality on the international stage.
Her medal hopes were almost elevated further in the semifinals, where she engaged in a closely contested battle against North Korea’s Kim Ok-Ju.
Kolawole narrowly missed out on a place in the final after suffering a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat, but she recovered to secure a bronze medal and add to Nigeria’s tally.
The performances of Ojo, Kolawole, and Ogunsanya represent another encouraging chapter for Nigerian wrestling, a sport that has consistently produced strong results for the country at continental and international competitions.
Winning three medals from four athletes is a remarkable return and reflects the growing competitiveness of Nigerian wrestlers on the world stage.
The results will provide valuable confidence and momentum as the athletes continue preparations for future international assignments.
Team Nigeria leaves Mongolia with pride, medals, and further proof that the nation’s wrestling programme remains one of Africa’s strongest.
