National Classic: Diri rewards Bayelsa’s victorious wrestlers

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has rewarded wrestlers from the state that won medals at the 13th National Wrestling Classics held last weekend at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa

Bayelsa emerged overall winners of the wrestling championship, which was the third sponsored by Governor Diri.

Each gold medalist got N500,000, silver medalists N200,000 and while bronze medalists received N100,000 each.

Governor Diri, who presented the cash rewards to the winners on Thursday shortly after the weekly Prosperity Walk programme at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, also rewarded Team Bayelsa with the sum of N2 million while the Dynamite Wrestling Club in the state that came third got N1 million.

The Bayelsa governor said the gesture was to encourage and motivate athletes to continue to excel in future championships.

“l congratulate all the winners in the wrestling championship. Wrestling is indigenous to Bayelsa State. So it should continue to maintain its first position. All of our competitors must come tops at national events, especially in wrestling and other combat sports. 

“Government is appreciating all our gold medalists in the wrestling competition with the sum of N500,000, silver medalists N200,000 and bronze medalists N100,000.

“I have been talking with Blessing Oborududu, the Olympic silver medalist, who has made a mark in wrestling, to mentor and train young ones that will take over from her,” he said.