WRESTLERS, OFFICIALS TO STORM YENAGOA FOR THE THIRD GOV. DOUYE DIRI NATIONAL WRESTLING CLASSICS
Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital will in few days play host to almost a thousand athletes, coaches and officials from the thirty six states of the federation, for the third edition of the Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics.
Xtrymesports.com reports that the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Dr. Daniel Igali disclosed this at a press conference held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex on Tuesday.
The tournament which has been slated for 3rd to 10th of November, 2024 will see the wrestlers battle for honors in the Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Senior categories.
According to the World and National champion, several clubs and academics, alongside athletes from security outfits are also expected to feature in the wrestling classics, which he described as the longest wrestling tournament in the country.
Dr Igali noted that this year's edition would witness an improved organization compared to the previous edition due to the level of enthusiasm and interest from the participants, coupled with the nation's poor outing in the last Olympic games in Paris, France.
Expressing his gratitude to the state governor Douye Diri for his unwavering support towards the development of sports in the last four years and more, the Olympian noted that Bayelsa remains the most successful wrestling state in the country, as the state has produced eighty-two gold medals, African champions, four commonwealth gold medalists, and an Olympic silver medalist.
He said, "I am pleased to announce to all sports lovers in Nigeria and beyond that the third Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling classics and the overall 13th edition, one of the longest running national championships, would be taken place for the 3rd to 10th November 2024."
"We are expecting to host over 800 athletes and over 200 officials in the one-week fiesta in Yenagoa ."
"Bayelsa state is without a doubt one of the most successful wrestling states in the country, and I will go further to say in Africa. We were having a conversation about a week ago, and it was made very clear to us that Bayelsa has produced 82 gold medals at the African level. So we have 82-time African champions from Bayelsa extraction. If you are to add all medals about 138 medals won by Bayelsans at the African level."
"We have also four Commonwealth Games gold medals from Bayelsa, and an Olympic silver medal, and if you are to add the borrowed one, an Olympic gold medal, so this definitely is the home of wrestling."
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports Development, Mrs. Grace Alagoa, Nigerians should expect the best of wrestling from this year’s championship, adding that the state was always ready to receive athletes and host sporting activities.
On his part, Director of Sports Bayelsa State Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, opined that the championship is a veritable platform to prepare the athletes for the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
"One, is a basis for assessment, two, is also a basis of nurturing talents, because the competition cut across all categories, so it's a win-win situation foe all associations, as it will serve as a grooming ground for athletes."
Meanwhile, Chairman Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, Mr Amaebi Stow, who is contributing his quota to the hosting of the wrestling classics added that, "I am happy to collaborate with the Nigeria wrestling Federation to positively engage the youths through sports. The Commissioner has done a lot for Sports, so it was easy for me given my support".
This year's championship, which is managed by Red Sapphire Nig Ltd, an Abuja-based events and sports management consultancy firm, promises to exceed expectations and elevate wrestling to new heights.
(c) Xtryme Sports
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