Team Nigeria has clinched the first position at the just concluded 2023 Senior, Junior and Cadet African Wrestling Championship which was held recently in Hammamet in Tunisia.
Team Nigeria won six gold and four silver medals in the senior category, two gold in junior category and one gold in beach wrestling.
The team also won three silver and two bronze medals in different categories as well as clinching the African senior female team title for an unprecedented 12th time.
Olympic silver medallist, Blessing Oborududu, won gold in the 68kg category to emerge 12-time African champion.
- 10th NASS: Respect APC’s zoning template, legislative aides tell Yari, others
- Wike drums support for Akpabio’s Senate presidency bid
Giving a breakdown of the team’s performance, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, who doubles as President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, said Governor Diri funded and supported 10 of the 18 wrestlers to the tournament.
He explained that Bayelsa wrestlers in the team won three senior gold medals, two junior gold medals, and one beach wrestling gold medal in addition to three senior silver and two senior bronze medals.
“The Bayelsa State government sponsored and supported 10 Bayelsans to this tournament.
“I acknowledge and appreciate His Excellency Senator Douye Diri for his support to the Nigeria national wrestling team. Without his support, we would not have got these results.
“His penchant for grooming and supporting Bayelsa athletes is manifesting not only in our exploits nationally but also in the continent as evidenced by the exploits of our wrestlers at the recently concluded 2023 Senior, Junior and Cadet African Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia.”
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has already congratulated Team Nigeria that participated at the Championship, saying the team’s performance was a positive manifestation of his administration’s relentless investment in sports and youths of the state.
Governor Diri in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, noted that the team, which had 10 young Bayelsa wrestlers, made the state and the country proud at the championships.
Diri also stated that his government’s passion to develop the potential of Bayelsa youths through skills acquisition and other human capacity building initiatives had changed the narrative about Bayelsa in the last three years and counting.
The governor, therefore, urged the youths not to rest on their oars but continue to do the state and Nigeria proud.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
