 president, Daniel Igali, has emphasised the need for the federation to invest in younger athletes.){kind=link}
Former Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) president, Daniel Igali, has emphasised the need for the federation to invest in younger athletes to ensure future success in international championships.
Igali said that more weight categories were being added to spice up the upcoming 4th Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Championship, scheduled to hold from December 12th – 20th, 2025 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Bayelsa State Government, in collaboration with the Federation, will engage the nation’s wrestlers in a national battle on the mat. Igali, who is also the Commissioner for Sports Development in Bayelsa State, said the state was ready to host the fourth edition of the championship.
“This year, we have added three more weight categories to what used to be twelve weight categories in each style, making a total of 15 in women’s wrestling, 15 in Greco-Roman and 15 in men’s freestyle, while in the under 15 there are five new weight categories.
“This is because we believe we need to invest a lot more in our younger athletes who are the future of Nigerian wrestling,” he said.
Igali, who is also a member of the World Wrestling Governing body (UWW), said it was the first time that the championship would feature traditional wrestling.
“We have the beach wrestling, which will see four weight classes in men and women battle for supremacy,” he said.
The former NWF president said the state would host one of the most glamorous championships. He said that Governor Diri had consistently sponsored initiatives of the Federation and expressed his confidence of a better championship this year.
“Every year since 2009, the state has hosted this competition, and under His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, this happens to be the 4th edition, and we are hoping this would be probably one of the better organised competitions we have ever had,” Igali added.
The championship will take place at the Samson Siasia Stadium, while Beach Wrestling will hold in Bayelsa Medical University grounds in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.