The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has rewarded wrestlers from the state who won medals at the 3rd Gov. Diri National Wrestling Classics, held last weekend at the indoor hall of the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Bayelsa emerged as the overall winners of the wrestling championship, which was the third edition sponsored by Governor Diri.
Each gold medalist received N500,000, silver medalists were awarded N200,000, and bronze medalists received N100,000 each.
Senator Diri presented the cash awards to the winners on Thursday morning, shortly after the weekly Prosperity Walk programme at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.
He also rewarded Team Bayelsa with a sum of N2 million, while the Dynamite Wrestling Club in the state, which came third, received N1 million from the governor.
Governor Diri stated that the gesture was intended to encourage and motivate athletes to continue excelling in future championships.
He directed the Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Daniel Igali, who is also the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, to scout for young talents at the grassroots level in a bid to produce future champions.
He said: “I congratulate all the winners in the wrestling championship. Wrestling is indigenous to Bayelsa State, so we must continue to maintain our top position. All of our competitors must consistently come out on top 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 with N200,000, and bronze medalists with N100,000.
“I have been in talks with Blessing Oborududu, the Olympic silver medalist, who has made a mark in wrestling, to mentor and train young athletes who will take over from her upon her retirement.”
The governor noted that his administration had already reached out to top athletes, including Oborududu, to identify and nurture talents across the local government areas, aiming to train them to win laurels at state, national, and international levels.
In his remarks, Hon. Daniel Igali stated that 25 states and 11 clubs participated in the National Wrestling Classics.
While presenting the winners and their trophies, Igali said Bayelsa emerged first in the Greco-Roman and freestyle categories, as well as in the female category.
He added that the state topped all categories, with a Bayelsa wrestler being named the outstanding competitor in Greco-Roman style.
