Blessing Oborududu, a 15-time African champion, has secured a spot in the semifinals of the Women’s Freestyle 68kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The 35-year-old Nigerian wrestler defeated her French opponent, Koumba Larroque, 6-2 at the Champ-de-Mars Arena on Monday, showcasing her dominance in the sport.
Oborududu, who made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by winning Nigeria’s only Silver Medal, is now seeking another Olympic podium finish in the 68kg class. Her victory over Larroque marks a significant milestone in her journey towards achieving this goal.
Next, Oborududu will face Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan in the semifinals of the women’s 68kg wrestling event at 8 p.m. The Nigerian, ranked 6th, will look to leverage her experience and skill against Zhumanazarova, an Olympic bronze medalist ranked 16th.
Oborududu’s impressive performance in Paris follows her first-place finish at the 2024 Seniors African and Oceania OG Qualifier. By advancing to the semifinals, she has already guaranteed a medal at the Paris Olympic Games, a testament to her hard work and dedication.
As Oborududu prepares to face Zhumanazarova, Nigerian fans and wrestling enthusiasts around the world will be eagerly watching, hopeful for another medal finish from this talented athlete.
