Nigerian Athlete Breaks Barriers With Gold At 2026 World Cup

Nigerian Athlete Breaks Barriers With Gold At 2026 World Cup

By Admin 

Nigeria’s Rukayat Suleimon has made history by becoming the first female blind sambist to win a gold medal at the World Sambo Cup, held in Yerevan, Armenia, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Suleimon’s landmark achievement came in the women’s 54kg category, where she delivered a series of impressive performances to defeat opponents from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Her victory not only marks a personal milestone but also establishes her as the first Nigerian and African to claim gold at an international sambo competition.

The tournament also featured her compatriot Elizabeth Aseso, as both athletes formed part of the pioneering group of female blind sambists competing at an international event organised by the International Sambo Federation.

Making her international debut, Suleimon—who is also a Lagos State judo champion—began her campaign with a narrow 12–10 victory over Kazakhstan’s Abdinazarova Elnara. She then advanced to the final, where she faced Uzbekistan’s Ortikova Charos. Despite an early challenge, Suleimon dominated the bout to secure a decisive 13–2 win and clinch the gold medal.

In contrast, Aseso, who competed in the women’s 59kg division, fell short of a podium finish.

Suleimon’s triumph has been widely celebrated, with the International Sambo Federation describing Nigeria as an emerging force in African sambo.

Speaking after her victory, Suleimon expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Sambo Association and its leadership, particularly Vice Chairman Sherif Hammed, for their support.

“I promised I would not return to Nigeria empty-handed, and I am grateful to have fulfilled that goal,” she said. “It was a challenging experience, especially as this was my first international competition, but I overcame my nerves and gave my best. I look forward to competing more and preparing for the World Championships in November.”

Her success builds on Nigeria’s growing presence in blind sambo. In 2024, Samuel Oladele Kekere became the first Nigerian and African blind sambist to compete at the World Cup, while Sodiq Ajibade secured a bronze medal in 2025.

Reacting to the achievement, Hammed described the victory as historic and significant for both Nigeria and the African continent.

“This is a proud moment for Nigeria and Africa,” he said. “It demonstrates that with the right support, our athletes can compete and succeed at the highest level. It also reinforces the message that disability is not inability and highlights our commitment to creating opportunities for visually impaired athletes.”

The World Sambo Cup, staged at the Gazprom Educational and Sports Complex in Yerevan, brought together elite competitors from around the world across Sport Sambo, Combat Sambo, and Blind Sambo disciplines. Beyond competition, the event also served to strengthen international sporting ties and advance the sport’s global development.