Nigeria’s latest national women’s wrestling champion and former National Youth Games gold medalist, Khadijat Idris of Kogi State revealed the secrets that saw her defeat all her senior foes at the recent Baraza Champion of Champions Wrestling Championship in Yenegoa, Bayelsa state.
Megasportsarena.com gathered that Idris defeated Christiana Ogunsanya of Oyo State 7-2 in the final of the 50kg women’s category despite being the underdog in her weight class, during which she also overcame former African silver-medalist Rosemary Nweke 10-0 via technical superiority in the round robin match.
An elated Idris told aclsports.com how excited she was to eventually become a senior national champion, even as she revealed further that she always watch video clips of senior wrestlers like Aminat Adeniyi, Blessing Oborududu and Odunayo Adekuoroye because they are recognized in the world.
Idris, who lost to Mercy Genesis in the women’s 50kg final at the 2019 Governor Serieke Dickson Wrestling Championship in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State, disclosed: “When some of our senior wrestlers like Aminat Adeniyi, Blessing Oborududu and Odunayo Adekuoroye wrestle, I watch them with keen interest and learn from them.
“Since I won gold at the National Youth Games in Ilorin, I had always dreamt of becoming a senior women’s national champion. I am full of joy because I am able to fulfill it at my young age.
“When I was paired against an African Silver medalist, my heart skipped but my spirit told me to be courageous and to God be the glory, I defeated her by Technical Superiority.”
On her part, five time African women’s champion, Aminat Adeniyi affirmed that the competition has put her in good shape ahead of the Africa/Oceanic Olympic Qualifiers in April.
After defeating another former African champion, Ifeoma Nwoye as well as Bisola Makanjuola, Esther Ayodele and Munghenbofa Ebipatei to win gold in the 62kg category, the Commonwealth Games gold medalist hailed her coach for ensuring she keep fit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adeniyi enthused: “I really appreciate myself for giving in all my best. And I appreciate my coach for pushing me so hard in training, and I appreciate God for giving me the strength to be able to perform here.
“It has been so many months back since we competed this way. Though, back in our gym, we used to compete with each other but it is not competitive like this. So, I will describe this as a preparation for our big competitions coming up.”
