Nigeria’s gold medalist in the women’s 80kg category of armwrestling at the ongoing 1st Africa Para-Games in Abeokuta, Emmanuella Ifuoma Oluigbo has set her eyes on reaching ‘greater height’ in the sport.
Oluigbo stated as much in an exclusive interview with Sports247, a few minutes after she clinched gold in the left- and right-hand events of her weight classification.
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While also calling on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to boost armwrestling with financial backing and other forms of support, Oluigbo admitted that her achievement on Monday in Abeokuta filled her heart with great joy.
She disclosed, “It’s a thing of joy and honour. It makes me proud that I am a wrestler and a winner.
“I didn’t plan for it, and I didn’t know that I would win but, as God will have it, He has placed me where I am today with a gold medal.”
Oluigbo also enthused that her double feat in The Rock City would spur her to aim for greater achievements that would make her happier in the coming days, even as she puts in her best to bring glory to Nigeria through arnwrestling.
She reasoned further, “Having won this gold medal, it will give me more strength and energy. As I go back to my state, I now have extra zeal to train more.
“I also have more confidence to tell people that armwrestling is indeed a good sport that gives you joy and happiness.”
The excited winner concluded by revealing what she believes are immense values that can be gained from armwrestling and why the federal government should start paying more attention to the sport.
Oluigbo expatiated, “It’s a sport through which people come to compete with happiness, not caring whether they win or not.
“You will see the zeal in them, and they are happy facing every challenge. So, I’m urging more people to cone into armwrestling.
“I also want to tell our government that they should fully support armwrestling. We need their total support financially and otherwise in order for us to reach greater height.”
