Canadians march to wrestling finals

04 August 2002

Canada’s two big-name wrestlers remain on course for gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist Daniel Igali (CAN) had already qualified for the semi-finals of the 74kg category before Sunday morning’s session, and he eased past Wynand Jacobs of Namibia to reach the final stage.

Igali will wrestle Sunday Opiah (NGR) for the gold after the athletic Nigerian saw off the challenge of Australia’s Rein Ozoline in the semi-final.

Opiah is hoping to become the first Nigerian to pick up a Commonwealth Games wrestling gold since Jacob Isaac won at light-flyweight in Victoria in 1994.

Canada’s other high-profile wrestler in Sunday’s finals is 60kg 2001 world champion Guivi Sissaouri.

With India leading the wrestling gold medal tally by three to Canada’s one after Saturday’s finals, Sissaouri has the opportunity to redress the balance as he takes on Shokinder Tomar (IND) in the final.

Cory O’Brien (AUS) and Nigeria Tebe Dorgu will contest the bronze.

In the 96kg division there is another Canada-Nigeria match up as Dean Schmeichel (CAN) takes on Nigeria’s Victor Kodei. Runners-up in the elimination pool were Pakistan’s Muhammad Bashir Bhola and Anil Kumar (IND) and they will wrestle off for bronze.

Info News Service/tb/jdc