The Sports Minister Sunday Dare has commended the wrestlers who represented Nigeria at the just concluded African Senior Wrestling Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia for their excellent performance.
The Nigerian contingent won nine gold, four silver and two bronze medals and the women’s team led by Blessing Oborududu reclaimed the top spot on the continent that they lost to Tunisia at the previous edition held in Casablanca, Morocco.
Dare urged the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) led by former Olympic champion Daniel Igali to keep up their hardwork and sustain the progressive momentum so that wrestling can fetch the country another podium finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“The Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development is proud of all you have done and wants you to keep this progressive momentum going so that wrestling can get Nigeria on the podium again at the 2024 Olympics in Paris as was the case at Tokyo 2020,” the Minister said.
The Media Assistant to the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Promise Okotoko hinged this on the performance of Bayelsa athletes doing exploits in Tunisia during the African Senior Wrestling Championships with the likes of Blessing Oborodudu, Mercy Genesis, Tarilayefa Bekefula, Harrison Onovwiomogbowho and others winning gold
According to promise Okotoko Champion Igali brought something special and a new mentality to Bayelsa Sports as everyone in the industry now feels they have something to give.
He said Bayelsa people, especially the youths now have a great motivation to fulfil destiny unlike in previous times due to the recent winning culture of the ministry of youth and sports development
Promise Okotoko added that in less than 3 years Bayelsa State Sports industry has witness great success from National Sports Festival to State Sports Festival which was the first time in the history of the state coupled with other sporting programmes that have given the Bayelsa youths opportunity to livelihood
