The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, curbed a nagging knee injury to become the first Nigerian to win a medal in wrestling at the Olympic games. Her effort has now taken Team Nigeria’s medal haul at the ongoing games to two after Ese Brume won bronze in the long jump event in the early hours of Tuesday. Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF) Daniel Igali said the wrestler has been treating the knee injury throughout the tournament.

    “She did her best. We have been treating that tender knee all through the tournament. Shocked she was able to take a full double attack. “The minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare, has guaranteed that the knee will be fixed in any country of her choice when she gets back to Nigeria and settles down. “Coming here to Tokyo I would have gladly taken a bronze from Blessing. This is a precious record-breaking silver. I’m so proud of her. Thanks, everyone for the massive support. We look forward to another great performance from Odunayo,” Igali said.

Oborududu thus entered the record books as the first Nigerian to win a wrestling medal at the Olympics. She claimed the coveted silver following a 4-1 defeat to her long-term foe American Tamyra Mensah Stock. Meanwhile, Aminat Adeniyi will no longer contest for a medal via the Repechage route in the Women’s Wrestling 62kg. Despite losing to Ukraine’s Iryna Koliadenko, Adeniyi was still in contention for a medal provided Koliadenko gets to the final, as the Nigerian would then enter the Repechage for a chance to fight for bronze. But unfortunately for her, Koliadenko was outclassed 10-0 (Technical Superiority) in the semi-final by Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan.