Purity Akuh, female head coach of the Wrestling Federation of Nigeria, has said that Nigerian athletes competing for honours in the Olympics are in high spirits.

“The athletes are in high spirits; they are poised to win medals at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics,” Akuh told journalists on Sunday in Paris.

He said the federation started preparations early because its president, Daniel Igali, who is an Olympian himself, understands the essence of good preparation for the Olympic Games.

“We are very happy in camp; the athletes are ready, we had a little preparation this morning.

“We talked about areas where we have advantages and challenges and resolved that with the athletes.

“Blessing Oborodudu will be competing tomorrow, hopefully, by the grace of God, she will do well,” Akuh said.

Akuh explained that the team’s training tour of Germany would be highly beneficial at the Olympics because the period offered the federation an opportunity to take the athletes away from distraction.

“They trained very well in Germany and we will begin to see the impact as the wrestling event begins on Monday.”

Akuh, who is optimistic that Nigeria would do better than the silver medal won by Oborodudu in the Rio 2020 Olympics, Japan, said the athletes were focused on the task ahead.

Coach Akuh is assisted by Happiness Burutu and spoke in company of Victor Kodei, the coach of the male team at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The wrestling events will begin on Monday and Nigeria will be competing in 68kg, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 76kg and 125kg bouts.

(NAN)