Oborodudu’s Olympic Dreams Suffered Setback As Nigerian Wrestler Loses in Semifinals

By Michael Adeoye

Nigerian wrestler Blessing Oborodudu’s bid for a consecutive Olympic final appearance was on Tuesday thwarted by Kyrgyzstan’s Meerim Zhumanazarova in the semifinals of the women’s 68kg wrestling event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Zhumanazarova edged out Oborodudu with a narrow 3-1 score.

Despite the setback, Oborodudu’s impressive quarterfinal match against World No. 3 Koumba Larroque of France showcased her resilience and skill. Trailing by two points, Oborodudu mounted a remarkable comeback to defeat Larroque 6-2, silencing the home crowd.

Although Oborodudu’s loss means she won’t achieve her goal of becoming the first Nigerian wrestler to advance to consecutive Olympic finals, she still has a chance to secure a bronze medal. Her fate now depends on the outcome of the repechage matches, where she’ll await another opportunity to demonstrate her wrestling prowess.