‘Governor Dickson Wrestling Classics to serve as rehearsal for world championships’

The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) has announced that the Third Governor Dickson National Wrestling Classics, which will take place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from June 24 to 30, 2018, will serve as trials for forthcoming international events. The Classics will feature over 500 athletes from different states of the federation and clubs.

Billed to hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Samson Siasia Sports Complex, the competition, according to the federation, will feature all the three wrestling styles (Greco Roman, Freestyle and Women Wrestling) in the senior (20 years and above) and cadet (15 to 17 years) categories with 10 new weight classes in the senior level, as well as five Olympic classes for the cadet athletes.

The federation revealed that it has already sent invitation letters to the chairmen of the different states’ wrestling associations, who have been advised to present the necessary documents for their cadet athletes.

NWF President, Daniel Igali said the Classics will be used as a trial for upcoming global tournaments, including the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, later this year.
“The tournament would be used to select our national teams for the World Championships, for the Cadet World Championships, the Junior World Championships and the U-23 World Championships,” the Vice-President of the Commonwealth Wrestling Committee disclosed.He added: “So, it is going to be a very interesting tournament.

“We are still not decided whether a couple of countries from Africa will attend, but hopefully, in the next two weeks, I will be able to give you that briefing.” Igali added that the competition level at the tournament will be very high, as the country’s elite athletes will all be part of the event.

“It’s going to be a high level tournament,” the Olympic champion said. “We are hoping to have over 500 athletes. We will have all our top guns there; they obviously have to be able to finish first in their weight classes to qualify for the World Championships.

So, everyone will take it seriously.“It is probably going to be one of the toughest tournaments we will have within the country this year.”