Pwasato Bolki Nickson, representing Adamawa State, secured a hard-fought victory in the Men’s 86kg wrestling category at the 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta. The win propelled him into the semi-finals, marking a memorable debut in modern mat wrestling.
Nickson had an interview with Sports247 before he went in for the next wrestling bout.
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Balancing nerves with faith, Nickson admitted he felt immense tension before his first match.
“My heart was beating so fast. I said, ‘God, I trust you.’ A friend encouraged me to relax, and once the fight began, my confidence took over.”
Although he comes from a background in traditional village wrestling—where a touch of the hand to the ground ends the bout—Nickson adapted quickly to the modern rules, which require pins to the back.
“In my village, touching the floor with your hands ends the match. Here, you must pin your opponent’s back. It demands more strength, agility, and focus.”
Looking ahead, the 86kg contender planned to carry forward the lessons learned and approach his semi-final match with renewed boldness.
“Next time, I’ll enter the ring full of confidence. This is just the beginning—I’ll train hard when I return home.”
Nixon’s breakthrough performance adds to Adamawa’s growing wrestling pedigree and signals a bright future for the newcomer on Nigeria’s national stage.
