Team Nigeria improved its rating at the ongoing 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games after Odunayo Adekuoroye clinched gold medal in the women’s freestyle 53kg.
Also, Tuesday, the pair of Aruna Quadri and Funke Oshonaike overcame Northern Ireland’s duo of A. Robinson and A. Givan 3-0 to set up a clash against Singapore Today.
(L-R) Bronze medalist Jill Gallays of Canada, silver medalist Lalita Lalita of India, gold medalist Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria and Mpho Madi of South Africa after the Women’s 53kg wrestling at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre during day seven of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 30, 2014 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
The 19 year-old Adekuoroye defeated India’s Lalita Lalita 2-0 to claim the fourth gold medal for Nigeria at the games.
Also on Wednesday, wrestling added two bronze medals to Nigeria’s medal haul with Amos Daniel beating England’s Sasha Madyarchyk 4-1 to win bronze in the men’s 61kg freestyle while Melvin Bibo also claimed bronze in the 74kg freestyle.
On Friday, Nigerian players will be in action in the mixed doubles, doubles and singles events of table tennis.
In the women’s singles, the trio of Edem Offiong, Cecilia Otu-Akpan and Ganiat Ogundele had an easy passage into the main draw (round of 64) but they will face a Herculean task when they begin their campaigns with Offiong pitched against England’s Joanna Drinkhall while Otu-Akpan will battle Singapore’s Taiwei Feng. Ogundele will tackle India’s Shamini Kumaresan.
The men will also taste action as the main draw of the singles event serves off on Friday with the trio of Quadri, Segun Toriola and Bode Abiodun battling it out for the title.
Meanwhile, Offiong believes the vital win recorded by the men’s team against Indian in the team event would spur them on in the competition.
“Our guys did really well. We’re very happy with the bronze medal. I’ve played so many international tournaments. I’ve played in the world tour, the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, and the world championships.
Nigerian table tennis is in a good place right now. It’s very good,” she said.
