Over seven hundred and fifty athletes and coaches from the thirty six states of the federation will jostle for glory in the 3rd Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Dr. Daniel Igali gave the hint at the press conference held in Yenagoa ahead of the championship.
He said the championship would commence from the 3rd through 10th of November, 2024 while the wrestling date will start from the 5th through the 9th of next month, stating that the Gov Douye Diri Wrestling Classics remains the longest wrestling tourney in the country.
The commissioner explained that the federation has received over twenty states who have indicated interest with both military and paramilitary organizations and also, over fifteen clubs have so far shown concern for this year’s championship.
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 Olympics games in Paris, France.
He asserted that the 3rd Gov Douye Diri Wrestling Classics would witnessed freestyle, Greco-Roman female styles and senior wrestling, explaining that freestyle and Greco-Roman will have ten weight classes, with an inclusion of five Junior and cadet classes making it a total of forty-five weight classes.
While appreciating governor Douye Diri for his unwavering support towards the development of sports in the last four years, the Olympian noted that Bayelsa remains the most successful wrestling state in the country, pointing out that the state has produced eighty- two gold medals in the continent.
He further explained that Bayelsa has eighty-two time African champions from the state making it one hundred and thirty -eight medals won by Bayelsans at the African level, with four commonwealth gold medalists, Olympic silver medalist and 19time Olympian from Bayelsa describing the state as the home of wrestling.
Permanent secretary Ministry of Sports Development, Mrs. Grace Alagoa said Nigerians should expect the best of wrestling from this year’s championship.
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.
Chairman Bayelsa State Table Tennis Association, said he is happy to collaborate with the Nigeria wrestling Federation to positively engage the youths through sports.
