October 27, (THEWILL) – Reigning African champion, Esther Kolawole, has secured a bronze medal in the 62kg weight class, at the 2024 U23 World Wrestling Championships in Tirana, Albania.
Kolawole in the 16th round, lost to USA’s Macey Kilty 3-3 on criteria.
However, the 2024 Paris Olympian, in a Repechage match, defeated Tynys Dubek of Kazakhstan by a 10-0 superiority score, having beaten Venezuela’s Astrid Montero with the same scoreline of 10-0.
Undeterred, Esther Kolawole secured the bronze medal with an emphatic 10-0 superior win over Viktoria Vesso of Estonia.
Reacting to the win in Albania, the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Hon Daniel Igali, applauded the motivated reaction of Esther Kolawole after she lost in the 16th round.
Daniel Igali, who, alongside Coach Akuh Purity, led Esther Kolawole to the championship, expressed confidence that the experience will shape her for future international events.
“Esther was unlucky not to be in the finals of this event. Our goal is to start the preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in earnest. Getting on the podium at the U-23 world championships is a step towards that goal.”
Kolawale is expected to return to Nigeria in readiness for the 3rd Gov. Diri National Championships from November 5 to 9, in Yenagoa.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
