Nigeria reigned supreme at the just concluded Africa Senior Wrestling championship in Morocco with the 13-man contingent winning eight gold medals out of a possible 16 in the men and women category with the women raking six gold medals out of the possible 8.
The contingent arrived the Murtala International airport today by 6am in the company of the president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation hon Daniel Igali who praised the attitude of the athletes at the championship also stating that they could have done better if not for some evidence of match rustiness.
The performance of Nigerian women wrestlers have caught the eye of the world in recent championships with names like Odunayo Adekuroye, Mercy Genesis and Blessing Oborodudu making the round which has raised questions on the performance of the male folks but the president has come out to defend their performance but at the same time telling them to sit up.
Ighali, an Olympic gold medalist says “If you look at the achievement of the women, you will almost think the men are not doing anything. example you go to a championships in Africa where about 42 countries are affiliated and about 30 countries taking part, you have eight medals at stake out of 34 countries competing and you win two, that is an impressive performance but when you have women go into the same competition and win six out of eight gold then the comparison is heightened and you may start thinking the male are not even achieving anything.
“In actual fact they are one of the best teams in Africa but the women have taken their game another notch, so its up to them to improve. I just hope the freestlyle wrestlers are seeing what the women are doing. they neded to up their game.”
The president also revealed to brila.net that the athletes will attend lots of international competitions this year. “In about a week some of our athletes will attend a competition in Azerbaijan, that’s the World Islamic games from May 12-22, we are also hoping to have some of our athletes go to the Grand Prix in June, that’s in Germany, we are going to a competition in Spain in July, and we are also hoping to go to the world championships with about six athletes in August in Paris.
“We also have the Commonwealth championships in South Africa in November, and Nigeria is going to host the African championships in Portharcourt in February of 2018 so we have a loaded program and that is where the need for corporate sponsors become more important.
By Kelvin Ekerete.
Profile.
Kelvin Ekerete is an all round sport bloke. A sport writer, presenter and reporter. A big time follower of Football, Basketball, Athletics, Boxing, Tennis, Rugby. Loves Arsenal, the Super Eagles and the Boston Celtics, Usain Bolt, Roger Federer.
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