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Wrestling federation prepares for 2018 Commonwealth Games in Yenagoa

By Samuel Ifetoye
21 March 2017   |   3:55 am
President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Daniel Igali has revealed the body’s decision to invite top wrestlers to camp next week in Yenagoa, where they will begin the first phase of preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games slated for Australia.

PHOTO: Nigerianbestforum

Ready for African Championship in Morocco

President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Daniel Igali has revealed the body’s decision to invite top wrestlers to camp next week in Yenagoa, where they will begin the first phase of preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games slated for Australia.

Before the Commonwealth Games, the wrestlers will feature in the Africa Championships in Marrakech, Morocco between April 25 and 30. He said the championship would form part of the preparation for the Commonwealth Games slated for the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from April 4 to 15 next year.

According to Igali, the wrestlers would be camped at the Dynamite Recreation Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, while waiting for funds from the Federal Government for official camping.

“I am hoping that the last week of this month, we are going to call some of our top athletes to the Dynamite Recreation Centre to start official preparation for the championship in Morocco after funds may have been released by the Federal Government.

“As regards preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Australia, as you are aware recently two of our athletes, Aminat Adeniyi and Mercy Genesis, had a 10-day training camp in Vaasa, Finland. This is a collaborative effort between United World Wrestling and Nigeria.

“They came back for the national championship held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa, and we have also secured another six months scholarship for them to go back to Finland for another round of training to prepare for the Commonwealth Games. These two athletes will be opportune to have the best training…we are also going to extend this to other athletes as well,” he said.

Igali, who is also the Technical and Development Director of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), said all that is required for the wrestlers to win laurels at major championships was to train for at least a minimum of two to three weeks to be in proper shape.

“My philosophy has always been that athletes do not need more than a month at a time to prepare for any championship. Our routine has been to bring athletes to camp to train for two to three weeks, hold discussion, and go home. Return again for another round of a revolving training, compete on a usual schedule until we go to any championship. I think we will be ready for the Games next year,” he stated.

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