Nigeria’s women wrestlers once again demonstrated their growing influence on the international stage, returning from the Ulaanbaatar 2026 United World Wrestling (UWW) 3rd Ranking Series with three medals and another encouraging statement of intent ahead of future global competitions.
Competing against some of the world's leading wrestlers in Mongolia, Team Nigeria finished the tournament with one silver and two bronze medals from a four-athlete contingent, underlining the country's continued strength in female wrestling.
Leading the charge was Hannah Ojo, whose impressive campaign earned Nigeria a silver medal in the 76kg category. Ojo opened her tournament in dominant fashion, overwhelming Mongolia’s Tuvshinjargal Tarav 10-0 before advancing to the semi-finals. There, she produced another assured performance, defeating India’s Priya 5-1 to book a place in the gold-medal bout.
Her quest for the top prize, however, was halted in the final by another Indian wrestler, Kajal, who secured an 8-0 victory, leaving Ojo with a well-earned silver medal after a strong run through the competition.
Nigeria also celebrated another podium finish through Esther Kolawole, who captured bronze in the 62kg division. The Nigerian wrestler's journey was marked by one of the tournament’s notable upsets when she defeated Russian world number one Amina Tandelova 6-0, sending a strong message to the international field.
Kolawole came within touching distance of the final but suffered a narrow 5-4 defeat to North Korea’s world silver medallist Kim Ok-ju. Undeterred, she bounced back emphatically in the bronze-medal contest, overpowering China’s Huan Yang 10-0 to secure her place on the podium.
The medal haul was completed by Christianah Ogunsanya, whose earlier bronze-medal performance ensured Nigeria ended the competition with a total of three medals.
The Ulaanbaatar Open, held annually in Mongolia, is the third of four United World Wrestling Ranking Series tournaments on the international calendar. The competition carries added significance as athletes accumulate valuable seeding points that can influence their positioning at major world championships.
The 2026 edition began on June 4 and concluded on Saturday June 6, bringing together elite female wrestlers from across the globe in a highly competitive contest for ranking points and international honours.
For Nigeria, the outcome represents another encouraging chapter in the nation's wrestling journey, with three podium finishes highlighting the depth of talent emerging from the country's women's wrestling programme and reinforcing its reputation as one of Africa’s most consistent forces in the sport.
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