Blessing Oborududu achieved another milestone in the color of Nigeria as she won the gold medal at the ongoing 2022 Wrestling Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medalist defeated Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstani in the final of women’s 68kg final, on Friday.
It was the first Ranking Series gold after two silver and a bronze-medal finish in the previous edition.
Speaking after claiming the gold medal, Oborodudu said:
“I wrestled her in the quarterfinals in Tokyo, but here, I knew it would be tougher. I had to keep myself from attacking too much. My coach told me to move before attacking. I can say it was easy.
“I was calculating a lot in my mind. I knew if she scored, then she would get two points. So I needed it to be 3-2.
Recalled the commonwealth games champion also defeated Zhumanazarov in Tokyo last year.
“She was a bit better in Tokyo than here because everyone prepares better for the Olympics. I needed to be careful to get gold. In Tokyo, I attacked to get two points and then one passivity to win, 3-2. That was difficult.
“I am so excited. Now I have African Championships in May and then the Commonwealth Games. I want to win a world medal in September.”
The wrestling tournament which started on Thursday, February 24, will end on Sunday, February 27.
