Paris 2024: Blessing Oborududu advances to semifinals, eyes medal amid new repechage rules

By Samuel Ahmadu in France

Nigeria’s wrestling sensation, Blessing Oborududu, has successfully advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 68kg wrestling competition at the Olympics, putting her in strong contention for a medal for the West African nation.

Oborududu, who clinched a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, now stands a chance to secure another prestigious accolade, albeit under new repechage rules that add an intriguing layer to the medal prospects.

The 35-year-old wrestler faced a challenging start in her latest match against Canada’s Linda Morais, conceding two points in the opening three minutes. Demonstrating resilience and skill, Oborududu mounted a remarkable comeback, scoring six unanswered points in the second half, culminating in an 8-2 victory and advancing her to the semifinals.

Her journey to the semifinals also saw her overcoming a formidable opponent in France’s Koumba Larroque during the quarterfinals, where she secured a 6-2 win. This victory not only booked her a spot in the penultimate round but also guaranteed her a medal, although the color remains undecided.

New Repechage Rules Explained

Under the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) new repechage rules for wrestling, Oborududu’s path to the bronze medal involves a detailed process. In the repechage system, a separate draw includes the losing semi-finalists along with the two athletes who lost to the eventual finalists in the round of 16 and the quarter-finals.

Specifically, the athletes who lost to the winner in the round of 16 and the quarter-finals from the same half of the draw will compete against each other. The winner of these bouts will then face the losing semi-finalist in their half of the draw. This process ultimately determines the two bronze medalists.

This means that if Oborududu does not advance to the finals, she will still have a chance to fight for the bronze medal. She would compete against one of the wrestlers who lost to the finalist, providing her an additional opportunity to secure a podium finish.

Upcoming Semifinal Clash

Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu will face Meerim Zhumanazarova of Kyrgyzstan in the semifinals of the women’s 68kg wrestling event at 8 PM on Monday. Oborududu, ranked 6th and an Olympic silver medalist, will be up against Zhumanazarova, ranked 16th and an Olympic bronze medalist. This match is set to be a thrilling encounter between two experienced wrestlers, each aiming to secure a place in the finals.

Looking Ahead

As Oborududu prepares for her upcoming semifinal match, the anticipation builds not only within her team but also among her supporters back home in Nigeria. The new repechage system adds an extra layer of excitement and strategy, ensuring that every match counts toward the ultimate goal of securing an Olympic medal.

With her current form and determination, Blessing Oborududu remains a formidable contender, whether she fights for gold or navigates the repechage rounds for bronze. The wrestling community and fans alike are keenly watching to see if she can better her silver medal performance from Tokyo 2020, making history once again for Nigeria.