In the wake of the highly successful and revealing 4th Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria’s officials and coaches have already turned their attention on this year’s African championship, Sports247 reports.
This was made known by the former president of Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF) and Bayelsa State’s current commissioner for sports, Honourable Daniel Igali during the closing ceremony of the classics in Yenegoa.
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He expressed delight that the competition sponsored by Bayelsa State government had bouts in 55 weight categories, including the introduction of beach wrestling, which he described as a dress rehearsal for the 4th Youth Olympic Games.
Igali added that, before the Youth Olympics (from October 31st to November 13th in Dakar, Senegal), Team Nigeria will be part of this year’s Africa Wrestling Championship in Alexandria, Egypt, scheduled for 12th to 15th of May.
While disclosing that Nigeria will feature in senior, U17 and U20 categories, Igali announced rewards of ₦200,000 to each gold medalist, ₦100,000 for silver winners and ₦70,000 for bronze in 45 weight categories of Yenegoa 2026.
He referred to Governor Douye Diri as a pillar for the NWF, as well as the main motivator who made it possible for Bayelsa State to host the championship without any hitch and emerge top on the meedals’ table.
Sports247 reports that the hosts clinched victories in the Greco-Roman, women’s freestyle, men’s freestyle and beach wrestling categories of the classics, which had over 600 wrestlers from 30 states and twelve clubs participating.
Bayelsa State won the championship with 22 gold, seven sliver and 16 bronze medals; as Dynamite Club placed second with six gold, nine silver and 12 bronze; while Nigerian Army finished third on three gold, three silver and ten bronze medals.
Cross River, Edo, Ondo and Nigeria Army placed from 4th to 7th respectively on the fibal table; while Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta and Dynamite Club dominated the newly introduced beach wrestling category.
