Igali tips Nigerian wrestlers to shine this year

After recording some
ground-breaking achieve-
ments last year, President
of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation
(NWF) Hon. Daniel Igali is hopeful
that 2020 will be even ‘better’ for the
sport in the country.
In addition to dominating the conti-
nent at the African Championships in
Tunisia and the 12th African Games
in Morocco in 2019, Team Nigeria
grabbed three global laurels. Back-
to-back Commonwealth champion
Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) won
bronze – her third medal at the World
Championships in Kazakhstan, while
Blessing Onyebuchi (70+) and Mercy
Genesis (50kg), both claimed gold
and silver medals respectively at the
inaugural ANOCA World Beach
Games in Doha, Qatar, to establish
Nigeria as a force to reckon with in
world wrestling.
Looking ahead to what promises to
be a very busy year in wrestling, the
Bayelsa State Sports Commissioner
highlighted some of the competitions
that the country’s wrestlers will tenta-
tively be taking part in.
“2019 was definitely a good year
for Nigeria, but our desire and hope
is that 2020 becomes even a better
year for us,” the World and Olympic
champion said.
“We are starting off with the Italian
Ranking Series Tournament in just
about a week. Baring visa difficul-
ties, we hope to make it there with
about five athletes and a coach. And
it will help with our ranking for the
Olympics.
“We have the African Champi-
onships coming up in February (in
Algeria), and we are hoping that, at
the minimum, we are going to retain
our title as African Champions in
female wrestling.”
With only Adekuoroye securing her
place at the Olympics this year by
virtue of winning bronze at the 2019
World Championships, Hon. Igali
also disclosed that the NWF intends
to qualify no fewer than six athletes
for the Tokyo 2020 Games, adding
that plans will be made to give them
quality preparations as well.