Ashton Mutuwa becomes latest Nigerian wrestler to book Olympic Games qualification
As the African/Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Alexandria, Egypt conclude, Ashton Mutuwa has joined list of Nigerian Wrestlers heading to Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The American born Plateau State wrestler produced à spirited display to overpower South African Justin VAN ZYL in a 16-8 pinfall to secure the Olympic slot.
Ashton Mutuwa who recently pledged his allegiance to Nigeria over America will be making his first ever Olympic appearance in Paris.
Nigerian Harrison Onovwiomobohwo 86kg missed out on Olympic slot to Australian Jayden A. Lawrence after losing 4-4 points criteria decision.
Despite putting up what seems to be his best performance in a while Braveman Oyeinkeperemo 74kg lost 2-10 to Bacar Ndum of Guinea-Bissau in the semi-final to add to the evening’s dissapointment for the Nigerian male freestyle wrestlers.
Earlier, Simeon Enozumini and Izolo
Stephen were unable to make it to the semi-finals for the men’s freestyle category after both respectively lost their round matches.
Before Sunday’s bouts, four Nigerian female wrestlers have joined Odunayo Adekuoroye to qualify for the Games in Paris.
Odunayo Adekuoroye had secured qualification to Paris last year following her bronze medal in women’s 57kg at the World Championships in Belgrade.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborodudu booked her place at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a 2-0 pinfall victory over Uilau I. Tarkong of Palau In The 68kg.
World Military Champion Hannah Reuben 76kg pipped Amy Youin of Cote D’Ivoire 6-0 to secure Olympic slot In Paris, having won African Games Gold in Accra, Ghana.
Esther Kolawole joined Nigerian list of athletes going to Paris for the Olympics after she overcame Angelina Rodrigues Miranda of Cape Verde 10-0 superiority to add to her African Games and African Championships triumph.
African Games champion Christiana Ogunsanya 53kg overpowered Egyptian Shaimaa Atef Barakat
Mohamed 10-0 superiority to secure Paris Games qualification.
However, Mercy Genesis narrowly missed out on Paris Olympics in this window after a 5-7 defeat to Nada Medani Ashour Abdalla
Mohamed of Egypt in 50kg weight class.
Meanwhile, the remaining Olympic slots will be decided in May 9-12 at the 2024 World qualification tournament in Istanbul, Turkey, offering three quota places per weight category to the two highest-ranked wrestlers and the champion of a wrestle-off between two bronze medalists.
