New Delhi:
Joe Agbonavbare of Nigeria pulled off one of the shocks of the Commonwealth Games to beat hotly-tipped Indian Manoj Kumar in the 84kg Greco-Roman wrestling final on Wednesday.
The Nigerian was an easy winner over Kumar, hotly-tipped at the start of the tournament as one of the host nation's best prospects for gold.
The Indian grappler, who has twice won Commonwealth gold and had the advantage of having only fought once in the morning session was widely expected to win the final comfortably but only managed two points to his opponent's seven.
After the bout Nigerian coach Igali Braladei paid tribute to Agbonavbare, whose gold was followed by a silver medal for compatriot Talaram Mamman.
"It is a thing of joy to have your athletes do well in an international championships," he said.
Agbonavbare won a spot in the final after defeating Gene Kapaufs in the semifinal. Kapaufs went on to lose to South Africa's Dean van Zyl in the bronze medal match.
"Tomorrow we have four athletes competing and I'm telling you we are going to win multiple medals," Braladei said.
The Nigerian was an easy winner over Kumar, hotly-tipped at the start of the tournament as one of the host nation's best prospects for gold.
The Indian grappler, who has twice won Commonwealth gold and had the advantage of having only fought once in the morning session was widely expected to win the final comfortably but only managed two points to his opponent's seven.
After the bout Nigerian coach Igali Braladei paid tribute to Agbonavbare, whose gold was followed by a silver medal for compatriot Talaram Mamman.
"It is a thing of joy to have your athletes do well in an international championships," he said.
Agbonavbare won a spot in the final after defeating Gene Kapaufs in the semifinal. Kapaufs went on to lose to South Africa's Dean van Zyl in the bronze medal match.
"Tomorrow we have four athletes competing and I'm telling you we are going to win multiple medals," Braladei said.
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