Contingents from 14 states, Nigerian Army, storm Bayelsa to compete for laurels in wrestling

CHINEDU WOSU YENAGOA

Contingents drawn from 14 states across the Country including the Nigerian Army have stormed Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital, to compete for laurels in the 2nd Governor Seriake Dickson National Wrestling Classics.

Disclosing this to Sports Writers in the state capital on Thursday, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Daniel Igali, said the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung and Governor Dickson are among dignitaries expected to grace the four-day national wrestling competition which begins Friday at the wrestling gym of the Samson Siasia Sport Complex, Yenagoa.

Igali described the wrestling championship as “one of the most important competitions we have on our calendar at the local level”.

He explained that the wrestling contest would be used to select athletes for the national team ahead of next month’s African Wrestling Championship holding at Marrakesh, Morocco.

Igali, who is also the chairman of the state House of Assembly Committee on Sports, said some talents that were discovered in the first edition of the championship including Mercy Genesis, Parkinson Robinson and Emmanuel Okorie, had moved on to national and international levels of wrestling championships.

The NWF President however said that the economic recession might prevent some states from participating at the championship.

He commended the governor for  putting up the championship at a time the country was going through financial difficulties.

Technical Director of the NWF, Damian Ohaike, said the championship would cover three categories of Greeco-Roman, female and freestyle wrestling.

The state Commissioner for Sports Development, Perekiye Buruboyefe, assured athletes and officials that adequate logistics have been provided to ensure a hitch-free wrestling championship.