All Africa Games - Abuja, Nigeria - Wrestling
| | Shaun Williams (South Africa), red , and Jacob Isaac, blue, (Nigeria), at the 8th All Africa Games in Abuja | |
Jacob wins gold, eyes Olympics medal
BY TIJANI AHMED SHUAIBU, AYO BADA & ABDULRAHMAN AKPATA
Nigeria’s gold med allist in wrestling event at the 8th All Africa Games, Isaac Jacob said he was excited over the country’s five gold, one silver and one bronze medals haul in the free style event of the continental games in Abuja.
While reacting on his victory shortly after he received his medal at the gymnasium Jacob, who won gold medal in the 55kg of the Abuja 2003, said the feat would spur him on to greater height.
The ageless wrestlers, who had won two gold medals in the 1994 Commonwealth Games and Zimbabwe 1995 All Africa Games, said hard work earned the Nigerian wrestlers the victories.
His age notwithstanding, Jacob is still having hope on being decorated with the Olympics medals.
“The Olympics gold medal will crown my success stories on the mat. I will strive improve on my technique and with God on my side, I will grab similar medal next year in Athens. That indeed will confirm my ability on the mat. I feel so great to make Nigeria proud and I also congratulate my colleagues who equally won gold medals for our country. Honestly, I am so excited,” Jacob said as he kissed his medal.
He explained that more medals would be won as the ladies began their events Thursday
Female Wrestler Wins Gold Back to Back
Daily Trust (Abuja)October 13, 2003
In spite of not participating in any international competition since she won a gold at the 7th All Africa Games, Nigerian female wrestler, Happiness Burutu, has clinched a back-to-back gold in the 63kg at 8th edition of the games taking place in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Happiness as saying: "I give thanks to God for doing this for me because it was not easy for me to win gold four years after I performed the same feat in South Africa.
" I dedicate the medal to God, who made it happen," she said.
She also attributed her victory to the overseas training, which, she said had revived her winning instincts and appealed to the federal government to sustain such foreign training.
Happiness commended the national wrestling coach, Stonye Panov, for his exemplary attitude, which, she said, motivated wrestlers to win laurels for the nation as part of their efforts to make the nation popular in sports.
| Medal Standings - Classement aux Me´dailles | |
| |
Wrestling / Lutte
| Pos. | Country | GOLD | | | SILVER | | | BRONZE | | | TOTAL | | |
| M | W | T | M | W | T | M | W | T | M | W | T |
| 1 | Nigeria | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| 2 | Egypt | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 3 | Tunisia | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | Senegal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 6 | Algeria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Cameroon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | Co`te d'Ivoire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | Madagascar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | Namibia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Legend:
| M | Men | W | Women | MX | Mixed |
| T | Total | | | | |
Commonwealth Nations at - (men's & women's wrestling) 8th-All Africa Games - ( Nigeria wins both men's & women's divisions)
Nigeria - Men -- 5 - Gold, 1 - Silver, 1 - Bronze
- Women -- 4 - Gold, 1 - Silver, 2 - Bronze
Wrestling, where Nigerian-Canadian Daniel Igali had been working with Bulgarian Stoyn Panov, cleared five gold medals. The winners were Sunday Oppia (84kg), Bick Adibo (74kg), Isaac Jacob (55kg), Fred Jessy (66kg), and Tede Biogu (60kg). Bolvic Finivic (96kg) and Wisdom Sewari (120kg) won bronze.
South Africa - Men - 1 - Gold, 1 - Silver, 3 - Bronze
Cameroon - Women - 1 - Bronze
Namibia - Men - 1 - Silver
Wrestling in the News :
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