Connect with us

Sport

Nigerian Wrestler Esther Kolawole Claims Gold at the Spanish Wrestling Grand Prix

Published

on

Esther Kolawole, the rising star of Nigerian wrestling, showcased her exceptional talent by winning the gold medal at the 2024 Spanish Wrestling Grand Prix held in Madrid. In a stunning display of skill, she defeated American wrestler Haylie Jaffe with a dominant score of 10-0 in the final match on Saturday.

Already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, Kolawole displayed her strength throughout the tournament. She easily triumphed over Spain’s Lydia Perez with a score of 10-0 in the quarter-finals, secured a 4-1 victory against Poland’s Alicja Nowosad in the semi-finals, and concluded her impressive run with a flawless performance against Jaffe in the finals.

This gold medal win represents a significant advancement for Kolawole, who previously won a bronze medal at the same event in 2023. Her latest achievement underscores her growing capabilities and reinforces her standing as an emerging talent on the international wrestling scene.

Kolawole is using the Spanish Grand Prix, which took place from July 4 to 7, as part of her preparation for the upcoming World Wrestling Ranking Series in Budapest, Hungary, set for July 14. These competitions are essential stepping stones leading up to the 2025 World Wrestling Championships in Croatia this September.

The Nigeria Wrestling Federation’s commitment to providing athletes with exposure to high-level international competition is clearly yielding positive results. Kolawole’s gold medal follows her previous bronze, while fellow Nigerian wrestler Ogunsanya Christinah also made her mark by earning a bronze in the 53kg category. Kolawole’s commanding performance in Madrid enhances her reputation as one of Nigeria’s most promising wrestling prospects and raises expectations for her future international competitions.

Sport

Tobi Amusan Shines Bright with Silver at the World Athletics Championships

Published

on

Nigeria’s sensational hurdler, Tobi Amusan, has made headlines once again, clinching the silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the 2025 World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo, Japan. This marks her return to the podium for the first time since 2022, showcasing her incredible talent and resilience.

Amusan demonstrated her elite athleticism by finishing the race in an impressive 12.28 seconds, securing a well-deserved second place. The gold medal was claimed by Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who set a new national record with a remarkable time of 12.24 seconds. Meanwhile, the bronze medal went to Grace Stark of the United States, who completed the race in 12.34 seconds.

Earlier in the day, Amusan had already impressed fans by winning her semifinal heat in 12.36 seconds, setting the stage for a thrilling final. Her fierce competitiveness and dedication were on full display, reaffirming her status as a powerhouse in the sport.

Tobi Amusan’s stellar performance at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships not only adds to her accolades but also solidifies her place among the elite in track and field. The future looks incredibly bright for this remarkable athlete!

Continue Reading

Sport

Tonali Rescues Italy from World Cup Crisis Against Israel

Published

on

Sandro Tonali clinched a thrilling 5-4 victory for Italy over Israel on Monday, delivering a crucial late goal in the 2026 World Cup qualifier just as the Azzurri appeared to be spiraling into another crisis. The Newcastle United midfielder celebrated exuberantly in stoppage time after his speculative shot navigated through a crowd of players and found the back of the net, sealing a dramatic match in Debrecen, Hungary, which Italy seemed to be on the brink of throwing away.

The Azzurri, having missed out on the last two World Cups, were dominating 4-2 in the 81st minute when Giacomo Raspadori, who came on for the impressive Moise Kean, scored almost immediately after his introduction. Kean had previously set the tone by netting Italy’s first two goals.

However, an unfortunate own goal by Alessandro Bastoni and a header from Dor Peretz brought Israel back to level terms just when it looked like Italy would secure a comfortable win. Tonali’s fortuitous goal lifted Italy to second place in Group I, now tied on nine points with Israel, who have played one more match, putting them in a playoff position.

Gennaro Gattuso, Italy’s new coach, remarked, “We’ll take the win, which was crucial for us, but we’re completely crazy because we conceded some absurd goals. We have to address that issue because we’re too fragile; we allow goals too easily. The players realize this, but it’s my problem to solve. However, credit must go to the boys for showing the courage to fight back every time they faced adversity.”

Italy trails group leaders Norway by three points, still holding a potential chance to secure the top spot and the sole direct qualifying berth for the World Cup. Yet, Gattuso faces significant challenges ahead of the upcoming matches against Estonia and Israel, especially as the Israeli players donned black armbands in remembrance of the victims of a deadly shooting earlier that day in east Jerusalem.

Despite being the nominal home team, Israel could have justified a draw, having seen Kean repeatedly pull Italy out of trouble following an early own goal from Manuel Locatelli and a stunning strike from Dor Peretz in the 52nd minute in a mostly empty Nagyerdei Stadium.

The match was overshadowed by political tensions stemming from Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip. A small contingent of Italian fans turned their backs during the Israeli national anthem, and boos echoed from some parts of the stadium, accompanied by banners reading “stop.” The Italian players also seemed disinterested at the match’s outset, as Israel showed more urgency and commitment compared to the four-time World Cup champions.

The nominal home side had a goal disallowed before Locatelli’s own goal put Israel ahead. He nearly redeemed himself with an acrobatic volley that struck the crossbar. However, ten minutes later, Kean scored a low drive past goalkeeper Daniel Peretz after receiving a knockdown from Mateo Retegui.

Kean found the net again nine minutes into the second half, equalizing right after Peretz had put Israel ahead again with a brilliantly placed shot. Politano eventually gave Italy the lead with a well-placed volley assisted by Retegui, and when Raspadori added a fourth goal, it seemed Italy would emerge victorious. But it was Tonali’s unconventional winner that ultimately secured the three points for Italy, averting a potential disaster that would have left their World Cup qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

Continue Reading

Sport

EPL: Postecoglou Set to Take Over as Nottingham Forest Head Coach

Published

on

Ange Postecoglou has reached an agreement to become the head coach of Nottingham Forest, following the club’s decision to part ways with Nuno Espirito Santo. According to reports from Sky Sports on Tuesday, the 60-year-old Australian is preparing to return to Premier League management, having finalized terms just ahead of Forest’s upcoming match against Arsenal.

After discussions with the club earlier this week, both parties quickly came to an agreement. Postecoglou is set to be the eighth permanent manager at Nottingham Forest since Evangelos Marinakis took ownership in 2017.

The former Tottenham manager was released from his position at the end of the previous season after a disappointing run that saw Spurs finish 17th in the Premier League. Nevertheless, he managed to secure a historic Europa League victory, ending the club’s long wait for a trophy.

Currently, Forest occupies the 10th position in the Premier League table after three matches this season. Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure came to an end after 21 months, with his last game resulting in a 3-0 loss to West Ham before the international break in September.

Espirito Santo took the reins in December 2023 following Steve Cooper’s dismissal and successfully maintained the club’s top-flight status. Last season, he led Nottingham to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, marking their best standing since the 1994-95 season and resulting in their qualification for European competition for the first time in thirty years.

Continue Reading

Trending