Nigerian wrestler, Mercy Genesis (48kg) is ranked number one in Africa in the January 2018 ranking released by the United World Wrestling (UWW).
The African Champion who had been unranked, gained a step to start 2018 at number 20 – the only African in the ranking.
Genesis, 20, broke into limelight after beating Rosemary Nweke at the 2015 All African Games trials in Abuja.
The University of Port Harcourt 300 level Human Kinetic and Health Education student expressed joy over the development promising to put more effort in the New Year.
“I’m dumbfounded, I never expected it because I was absent at the 2017 Commonwealth Championships in South Africa.
All the same I’m grateful to God, the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali and my coach Victor Kodei for believing in my abilities”, she said.
“Let me take you back to the Governor Wike Challenge Cup where I met my nightmare Rosemary Nweke. Before the championships, I was worried about her because she’s also good but I was determined never to give up on my dreams”, she told aclsports.com.
Mercy Genesis won gold after defeating Rebecca Ndolo Nuambo of Cameroon in the finals of the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo, Brazzaville.
The Bayelsa state born wrestler lost 0-4 to Poland’s Nina Matkowska at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The United World Wrestling is yet to release the ranking of other weight categories.
