.As wrestlers,weightlifters go medal crazy
It was indeed a golden mo­ment for Nigeria yesterday evening in Glasgow as Ni­gerian wrestlers went on a medal winning spree. Odunayo Adekuoroye fighting in the 53kg women’s freestyle, started the Gold rush, when she rushed India’s Lalita Lalita to submission winning 5-0.
On her way to the Golden podi­um, Odunayo had earlier romped to victory in the semi final match against Christelle Letchido of Cameroon by 4-2 on points.
While the ovation and celebra­tion was still on, Aminat Adeniyi, who fought in the 58kg weight class, did not give her Indonesian opponent, Shakishi any chance as she pilled up points after points romping into a 6-0 lead.
The second round was swifter and the Nigerian still smiling while twisting and turning the Indonesian amassed more four points to gross 10 points and win gold for Nigeria in a night that solely belonged to Nigeria. Aminat also showed off her danc­ing prowess as she took time to dance to the admiration of the crowd. Later, Odunayo and Ami­nat covered by the Nigerian flag took a lap of honour savouring the praises.
Come back kid, Amas Daniel, did not disappoint, as he wrestled his way into bronze in the 61kg men’s freestyle, defeating Lalita of India by technical fall.
In the 69kg women’s freestyle, Nigeria’s Hannah Ruben did not come out empty handed, as she outmuscled South Africa’s Molongwana to the bronze.
Meanwhile, Superwoman, Maryam Usman capped a re­markable performance yesterday, lifting Nigeria to a gold medal in a gritty test of power between her and Samoa’s Ele Opeloge.
The two greats started their snatch lifts at 115kg. It was the Nigerian who lifted 120 and 125kg respectively, while the Samoan could not lift the 125kg thereby allowing Usman to enter the Clean and Jerk with an edge.
The two who stayed back while the little lifters tried their hands on smaller weights, they bounced back to finish their rivalry starting with 145kg. It was Maryam who led the way with 150 and 155kgs respectively.
Aware that the Nigerian had gone further, the Samoan opted to lift 151kg and heightened the blood pressure of Nigerians when she lifted it. In her last lift, she called for 161kg to leap-frog the Nigerian but could not cross the rubicon after suceeding in the clean but failed woefully in the jerk.
As her babel hit the ground, sporadic applause erupted from the Nigerian camp, as Maryam slumped on her knee giving Allah all the glory.
 

Golden day for Nigeria!