By: Joy Odor/Kaduna
The Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung will join Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to declare the Governor Wike Wrestling Championship open on Monday.
The Wrestling Head Coach, Rivers State Sports Council, Mr. Oyonomunude Eli who made this known in a chat with Sports Journalists said the Sports Minister will also unveil the Logo and Mascot for the African Wrestling Championship, which Rivers state is hosting in 2018.
According to him, Rivers is the home of wrestling and as such, they were adequately prepared to surmount their opponents and prove that they were not just hosting but ready to win in a free and fair contest.
The Wrestling Head Coach added that Rivers will be presenting 60 male and 30 female wrestlers in both freestyle and Greco-Roman events, saying they were prepared to compete well.
Mr. Eli also expressed readiness of the State’s wrestlers to sweep all medals available in the championship, saying both Rivers and Lagos states have expressed readiness to win the maiden edition of the Wrestling Championship, which kicked off at the main bowl of the prestigious Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
Also speaking, the Secretary of Lagos State Wrestling Association, Ms. Somade Ganiat declared that they were not in Port Harcourt for mere participation but to cart away available gold medals.
She stressed that Lagos is the grassroots of wrestling in Nigeria and would prove same on the mats as the events unfold. She expressed satisfaction with the facilities at the venue, saying they were top class.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth gold medalist, Adekuoroye Odunayo has dropped the gauntlet, saying she is ready for any opposition at the championship.
While expressing satisfaction with the state of facilities provided for the championship, Odunayo stressed that the mats would do the talking against her opponents.
So far, 25 states and 5 wrestling clubs have been registered and cleared to participate in the championship.
