Rukayat Suleimon Wins Historic Gold at World Sambo Cup

Rukayat Suleimon has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first female blind sambist in the world to win a gold medal at the World Sambo Cup held in Yerevan, Armenia. Competing in the women's 54kg category, Suleimon, alongside compatriot Elizabeth Aceso, was part of a pioneering group of female blind sambists at the international tournament organized by the International Sambo Federation.

Suleimon overcame significant challenges to claim gold, defeating opponents from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. She made her international debut by narrowly defeating Kazakhstan's Elnara Abdinazarova with a score of 12-10 in the opening bout, followed by a dominant 13-2 victory against Uzbekistan's highly-rated Charo Ortikova in the final.

This victory marks the first gold medal for Nigeria and Africa in an international sambo event. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commended Suleimon's achievement, emphasizing her role as a source of inspiration for young girls across Nigeria to dream big.