The 5th edition of the African Wrestling Championships hosted by Nigeria ended penultimate weekend involving about 30 African countries with Nigeria winning the championship with about 50 medals.
Some of the countries that took part in the championships aside Nigeria are, Liberia, Egypt, Guinea Bissau,Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Namibia and Kenya.
Others are Burundi, Cameron, Cote d’ Ivoire, Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Madagascar and Senegal.
The feat of the Nigerian wrestlers at the championships, which held at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt, Rivers State no doubt, is a memorable one.
Against all odds, the championships solely sponsored by the Rivers State Government ended on a hitch free note without any security worries irrespective of the volatile nature of the state’s political atmosphere.
Hence Governor Wike said that the hosting of the championships, tagged “Port Harcourt 2018”, was geared towards foisting regional unity as well as provide platform for highly talented national wrestlers to prove themselves.
The successful hosting under a peaceful atmosphere also gave reasons to believe the governor who described Rivers State as safe haven for investors, adding that the state has the capacity to host more events.
“Rivers has the capacity to host more sporting activities with the facilities on the ground in the state at national and international levels.
Thus, the governor showed further appreciation by commending the United World Wrestling and Nigeria Wrestling Federation for choosing Rivers to host the event without bias.
There were also words of commendation from President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Sports and Youths Development, Solomon Dalung. He said that sport could also promote the well being of a nation.
A run down of the events showed that the Team Nigeria wrestlers emerged top in the cadet women wrestling, junior freestyle, senior women wrestling and senior freestyle wrestling.
In a chronological order (below) of events at the end of the competition on Sunday night (February 11), South Africa won the Cadet Free Style followed by Nigeria in the second place with Algeria finishing in the third position.
In the Men Wrestling Cadet, Egypt came first with Nigeria and Algeria picking the second and third places.
Also, Nigeria won the Women version with Tunisia and second and third respectively.
Host Nigeria again came top spot in the Junior Category Free Style with Algeria and Egypt picking the silver and bronze medals.
In the Junior Greco Roman, Egyptian wrestlers won the gold and bronze medals leaving Nigeria with the silver.
Tunisia won the Women Wrestling, Junior Category with Nigeria and Algeria settling for the silver and bronze respectively.
0 Comments