Meskout lauds wrestling facilities in Nigeria, pledges support for more development

NAN-S-15
Wrestling
By Christian Ogbonna
Yenagoa, Feb. 23, 2018 (NAN) Mr Fouad Meskout, President, United World Wrestling, Africa (UWW), has commended the available facilities for wrestling, in the country and pledged to support more development of the sport.

Meskout made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after inspecting facilities at Dr Daniel Igali Wrestling Theatre in Yenagoa on Friday.

The president described the theatre as “standard for grooming of talented wrestlers’’.

He also applauded Nigeria’s performance in the just-concluded African wrestling championships held in Port Harcourt and urged the participants to “keep the flag flying’’.

“Nigeria is actually taking the centre stage as far as wrestling is concerned; in the concluded Games in Port Harcourt, they proved to be the pride of Africa in the World Wrestling Federation.

“Moreover, with the level of organisation at the African wrestling competition and facilities in the wresting theatre here in Yenagoa, I should say that Nigeria is doing great.

“Wrestling in Nigeria has gone globally, with what we have seen on ground; Nigerian athletes won lots of medals in the just-concluded championships in Port Harcourt and Dr Igali, president of Nigeria Wrestling Federation NWF), was an Olympic champion some years ago.

“His passion to establish a theatre for training of other Nigerians and Africans will go a long way to see Nigerians and indeed, Africans dominate the world wrestling game.

“I commend Igali for building a world class wrestling centre in Bayelsa,’’ he said.

On support to Nigeria for more development, Meskout promised to bring wrestling coaches and equipment to the centre and called on the Nigerian government and other corporate bodies as well as individuals to support the growth of the game.

NAN reports that already, athletes from 14 African countries are camping in the Igali theatre in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia in April.

Contributing, Igali said the aim of the theatre was to promote the training of talented wrestlers in the country for national and international events.

“Yes, Nigerian athletes are to win more medals and make the continent of Africa proud; I must let you know that those ones that won laurels at the African Wrestling Championship in Port Harcourt are currently in camp ahead of the Commonwealth Games,’’ Igali said.

Nigerian wrestlers won 50 medals at the just concluded championship in Port Harcourt; 22 gold, 28 silvers. (NAN)
OOC/OSA/PDE
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(Edited by Shittu Obassa/Peter Ejiofor)