With Nigeria’s five female wrestlers out of contention at the ongoing Rio Olympics, Daniel Igali, the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, says he has lost N1 million bet on their winning medals.
Igali, also Technical Director of the NWF, apparently devastated by the results on Friday, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that the development was saddening.
He said: “I had placed a N1 million bet on these girls winning medals.
“I feel so sad and sorry for these wrestlers because they have put in a lot of hard work to get these poor results.
“It is indeed sad because these wrestlers sacrificed a lot and did not deserve these defeats.
“How I wish there is local Nigerian gin, known widely as Ogogoro, for me to drink to steady nerves.”
The coach, who is a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, said: “Look at me.
“I have been an absentee lawmaker because of the wrestlers.
“Out of 87 sittings in the House, I was only present 13 times.
“Imagine that!
“All because of this national assignment.”
Igali added that most the annoying aspect was that most of those girls that inflicted these defeats had been previously beaten by our wrestlers.
With the female wrestlers out, the remaining two male wrestlers will take to the mat on Sunday, the closing day of the Games.
They are Amas Daniel and Soso Tamara.
NAN reports that Reuben Hanna Amuchechi lost 4-1 to Canadian Dorothy Yeats in the 69kg freestyle, while Mercy Genesis (48kg) lost 5-0 to Nina Matowustka of Poland.
Aminat Adeniyi (58kg) also lost her fight in the round of 16 like her compatriots.
Reacting to the ouster of the female wrestlers, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Tony UBani, said that it was heart-wrenching.
Ubani said in a statement that the most devastating of the losses were those of Blessing Oborududu and Odunayo Adekuoroye.
Both were defeated in dramatic circumstances with Oborududu losing 3-1 to Soronbold Battsetseg of Mongolia.
Oborududu lost on technical points to Battsetseg after tying at 1-1 on the result sheet.
But Adekuoroye, who was known for her after victory celebration dance, was completely bemused at her 8-0 loss to Sweden’s Mattsson Sofia Magdalena.
The statement said the losses left Igali, a former gold medallist at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, depressed.
NAN.