Rivers State Governor Nyeson Wike has said the state decided to host the African Wrestling Championships from February 5 to 11 in Port Harcourt to set an example for other states and help the country produce top-class athletes.
Twenty-five countries are expected to participate in the tournament at the Alfred Diete Sports Complex in the state capital.
Wike said, “We want to set an example with this event for other states and even private organisations to emulate. We are going to stage a world-class competition and we expect it to give a direction to our administrators and other people involved in sports.
“Because of the competition, we have worked so hard to put many things in place like having a quality venue, good accommodation and other logistics to guarantee a good events.
“The competition will be a big show for all participants because we are going to make a statement on how to stage such event. I am aware it is the first time in 44 years of wrestling in the country that we are hosting Africa, so we will give our best.”
The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Daniel Igali said he was happy that wrestlers from different categories would represent the country at the championships.
Igali said 90 wrestlers would represent the country in the competition from a total of 180 wrestlers in three camps.
He said, “I am happy that the young athletes we have now will be useful in future. We have never had a large group together. It is a positive development for the sport.”