The Blessing Effect: How Oborududu put Nigerian wrestling on global map

In the history of Nigerian sports, no female wrestler has won more laurels than Blessing Oborududu.

For over a decade, Oborududu has made Nigeria proud at international competitions.

Her remarkable achievements include winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Games, making her the best female wrestler from Africa. She has also won 12 African championships.

She is also a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and one-time bronze medalist.

Oborududu made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as she became the first Nigerian wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics, taking home silver in the 68 kilogram category.

This is not only a moment of joy for Nigerians but it also awakened new generation wrestlers.

Oborududu’s fame spread beyond the African continent where she has won gold medals in Islamic Solidarity Games and Yasar Dogu Tournament, Turkey, making her a global wrestling powerhouse.

On account of her achievements, Oborududu was selected to be Nigeria’s flag bearer during international tournaments that include Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

She has shown love and commitment toward her country through sports, thereby becoming one of Nigeria’s loved sport ambassadors.

Her legacy extended beyond simply winning medals. She has helped popularise wrestling in Nigeria, and also improved its overall participation by influencing a new generation of athletes from her successful career.

Blessing Oborududu’s achievements are a testimony to her hard work, persistence and dedication.

She is an epitome of success that could be accomplished through doggedness and enthusiasm, thus motivating wrestlers and all Nigerians to strive for the best.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Oborududu defeated her Canadian opponent, Linda Morais with a convincing 8-2 victory in the preliminary stage, and later quarter-final match. She put Larroque Koumba of France to the sword 6-2 to set a semi-final bout with Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan.

She eventually lost to Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan, 1-3 in the semi-final and later to her Japanese counterpart, Nonoka Ozaki 3-0 in the bronze medal match.

The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) and Olympic gold medalist, Daniel Igali, commended the world number 6, despite her loss at the bronze medal bout to her Japanese counterpart, Ozaki on Tuesday.

in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Tuesday in Paris, Igali said that the federation had a lot of work to do to replace her.

“She did her best. She has really represented Nigeria very well as an exemplary athlete.

“Four Olympic appearances. Olympic silver medallist. 14-time African champion, three-time-African games champion, two-time commonwealth games champion.

“We have quite a lot of work to do to replace her. I doff my hat for Blessing Oborududu,” Igali said.

The Secretary-General of the federation, Haruna Maigidansanma, described Oborududu as a huge talent that has brought glory to Nigeria through wrestling.

“Oborududu is a top professional, and we are very proud of her at the federation. I hope she will agree to mentor interested Nigerians on the mat.

“She has etched her name in the annals of Nigerian sports history, becoming the country’s most decorated wrestler.

“With a career spanning not less than a decade, she has consistently made Nigeria proud on the global stage,” Maigidansama said.