WRESTLING SWELLS NIGERIA'S MEDAL HAUL

Agbonavhare
Nigeria's medal haul at the Commonwealth Games currently on in Delhi received a big boost yesterday (Wednesday) with her wrestlers picking gold, silver and bronze in three different categories of Greco Roman style.

Last night at the Indira Ganndi Arena, Joe Agbonavhare pulled off a stunning performance to wrestle his way to Gold in the 84kg category. He defeated the Games' favourite, Manoj Kumar of India to pick Nigeria's first gold in Greco-Roman wrestling.

The Indian grappler, who has twice won Commonwealth gold and had the advantage of having only fought once in the morning session was widely expected to win the final comfortably, but only managed two points to his opponent's seven.

Following in the footsteps of Agbonavhare are compatriots, Talaram Mamman and Romeo Joseph, who earned Nigeria a Silver and Bronze medals in the 120kg and 60kg weight classes respectively.

Speaking to Daily Sunsports from New Delhi, Technical Adviser to the Nigeria Amateur Wrestling Federation (NAWF), Daniel Igali expressed delight at the achievements recorded with Greco-Roman wrestling at the Games.

He explained that his last minute inclusion of Greco-Roman as one of the events Nigeria would participate in at the Games has paid off handsomely for the Nation. Igali assured that he is hoping to give Nigeria more medals when the women and male Freestyle events begin today.