October 23, (THEWILL) – No fewer than 800 athletes and 200 officials are expected to participate in the 3rd edition of Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classics, slated for November 3 to 10, 2024.
The National Wrestling Classics, organised by the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government, is aimed at boosting the morale of Nigerian wrestlers after the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
Speaking with Journalists at the Samson Siasia’s Sports Complex in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital on Tuesday, the President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Dr Daniel Igali, said the third Governor Douye national wrestling classics, tagged ‘Preparing Champions for The Future’ has already received interest from 25 states in the country to participate.
Igali, former Olympics and Commonwealth gold medalist, stated that Bayelsa State is without a doubt one of the most successful states in wrestling in the country and in Africa.
“Bayelsa alone has produced 82 gold medals at the African level, so we have 82-time African champions from Bayelsa extraction in wrestling, to add all medals about 138 medals won by Bayelsa at the African level, we also have 4 Commonwealth golds medals from Bayelsa and an Olympics silver medal from Bayelsa.
“So, I’m very happy today to announce to us sports lovers in Nigeria and beyond that the 3rd Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classics and the overall 13th edition, one of the longest-running championships will be taking place from the 3rd to the 10th November, 2024, officially but the wrestling date specifically will be from the 5th to the 9th of November, 2024.
“We have so far received over 25 states that have indicated interest in attending this championship, we have all military and paramilitary organisations that have indicated interest in attending in addition to over 15 wrestling clubs across the country.
“We are expecting to host about 800 athletes and over 200 officials in the one-week fiesta in Yenagoa, and we believe without a doubt it’s going to be one of our better-organised national wrestling classics, looking at the enthusiasm, looking at the interest from different participants and also viewing the background from where we are coming from, that is the fact that we didn’t do very well at the Olympics, we want a start-up almost every away, as one of the leading amateur sports organisations in the country.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank Governor Douye Diri who has shown his penchant for supporting, hosting and doing everything possible to push the gospel of sports in the prosperity administration as we have never seen before.
“So this definitely is the home of wrestling, we also have about 19 time Olympians from Bayelsa extraction, so we have had people going to the Olympics 19 times from Bayelsa in wrestling alone, so without a doubt, there is no sport that comes close to wrestling in terms of achievement when we want to talk about history of sports in Bayelsa State, and so it is not surprising that successive administrations have shown this dedicated love for funding, sponsoring this competition for 13 years in a roll.
“The Comptroller General of Customs, and the Chief of Defence Staff, have all confirmed their attendance, we are waiting for the confirmation of the Minister of Sports”, he said.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
