1st August, 2014
Smarting from her gold medal feat in the women 53kg freestyle wrestling at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, ecstatic Odunayo Adekuruoye has set her eyes on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as her next all important target.
The 19 years old wrestling sensation discharged her opponent Lalita Lalita of India in less than two minutes into the gold medal match at the SECC Event centre in Glasgow to the applause of the Scotish spectators and now says there is no going back on pursuing an Olympic dream.
“This is not the end. This is just the beginning. I am looking forward to the Olympics, for a gold medal, and I believe that by the grace of God and with my coach, Purity Akuh and our leader and father, Daniel Igali, still by my side, I can win gold at the Olympics.” Describing her journey to the Commonwealth gold medal, Adekuruoye revealed that the most of the credit goes to the benevolence of Daniel Igali, President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation and the family of her coach, Purity Akuh.
“This gold means more than the winning bonus money for me. It represents a testament of faith for those who have supported me and are helping me to build a name in wrestling. I was ashamed of myself when I won silver at the African Championships in Tunis because Igali had spent so much on me, financially and morally, trying to build me up, that I felt I had failed to reciprocate in performance. That was why I challenged myself that I won’t want to see him seating down and sweating again at competition venue in apprehension or disappointment in me. It is much the same way for my one and only coach, Purity Akuh. He has been so wonderful and loving and he has encouraged me so much.
He and his wife contributed so much to my success and my life. They brought me into their family, into their house since I was 13 and I have been living with them for the past six years because the coach said he saw a future in me, believes in me and needed me to be close to him such that we can work together more conveniently without hinderances. His wife immeditely took me as both a daughter, younger sister and friend and I have remained part of the family. I know that today his wife will be happy and feeling justified and fulfilled for their sacrifice now that I have won gold. That is my biggest joy. This gold is for them, our mum and the children and for our leader, Igali. They fought the fight and they more than deserve this victory and glory.”