Nigerian wrestling sensation, Odunayo Adekuoroye has suffered a shocking defeat and will not compete for a medal in the Women’s Freestyle 57kg category at the Tokyo Olympics.

In a swift turn of events, with just a minute of fight time remaining, second seed Adekuoroye lost 8-2 via pinfall to Mongolia’s Anastasia Nichita despite leading the bout 8-0 in the round of 16.

The African champion was in total control, suddenly, Nichita found a way to bring her down and pinned her till the referee declared it over. Stunning victory for the Mongolian. Adekuoroye’s hopes to compete for bronze through the repechage was dashed when Nichita lost 6-3 to Bulgaria’s Georgieva Nikolova in the quarter-finals.

Odunayo Adekuoroye was Team Nigeria’s hope and face at the Tokyo Olympics. She was so good that she was described as good as gold. Nigerians looked eagerly to her fight with high hopes. 

But the unexpected happened yesterday as Adekuoroye was beaten flatly through a pinfall after romping to an 8-0 lead by Moldova’s Nichita Anastasia. How are the mighty fallen! 

The venue became quiet like a graveyard. Sports Minister clasped his hands on his head. Daniel Igali was shell-shocked. Solomon Ogba was confused and kept asking; “what happened? She was leading 8-0”. AFN President Tony Okowa, NOC President Habu Gumel and Scribe Banji Oladapo. They were all stung. Tears welled on the eyes of Igali. Other international officials mourned.

When Igali got hold oh himself, he could still not believe that the gold medal in the making had melted.

“She(  Adekuoroye) had beaten this same girl in all their previous meetings. She beats her mercilessly by 10-0, 10-0, 10-0 in all their fights. This is unbelievable”, he said still stuck on his seat as Sports Minister Dare and Ogba offered him help.

“The zone was clear for her to go straight to the final. The tough fighters she beats were not on her zone”, Igali lamented. Looking at a possible technical aspect that could still offer Adekuoroye the chance of survival, Igali shook his head and foreclosed any hope.  This Moldovan is not good and cannot get to the final to offer such hope for the Nigerian.

And true to his words, Adekuoroye,s conqueror was dismissed in her next fight 6-3  by a Bulgarian thereby extinguishing any ray of hope for Adekuoroye. The shock was tremendous and the deafening silence that descended on the hall showed that a calamity had happened.

Things got worse for Team Nigeria on the mat as the only male wrestler, Ekerekeme Agiomor, who is making his Olympics debut lost by technical superiority 1-12 to Deepak Punia of India in the Men’s Freestyle 86kg. Nigeria’s only chance to compete for another wrestling medal is on youngster Adijat Idris who will wrestle in the Women’s Freestyle 53kg tomorrow.

Nigeria occupies 65th position on the Tokyo Olympics medal table courtesy of the silver medal won by Blessing Oborududu and Ese Brume’s bronze from the long jump event.