NWF plans improved preparation for upcoming championships – Igali

The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) plans to give her athletes adequate preparation ahead of upcoming championships, president of the body, Hon. Daniel Igali told National Daily.

With several tournaments including the World Championships in Hungary and the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina, lined up for Team Nigeria before the end of the year, the Olympic gold-medalist says the federation will ensure her athletes are well-prepared in order to make a mark in those events.

“We already have six athletes in camp in Bayelsa (State) for the Youth Olympics coming up in Buenos Aires,” he told NWF media. “We have the World Championships coming up in Hungary in October. We also have the U-23 World Championships in November in Romania.

“What we want is to also have one or two test tournaments for the senior athletes before the World Championships. And we have two test tournaments but also ranking tournaments in Poland and France – Paris, in the middle of September. So we are trying to get our senior athletes to go to those tournaments to get prepared (for the World Championships).”

Hon. Igali, who is also the vice president of the Commonwealth Wrestling Committee, also revealed that Nigeria will be sending between four to six athletes to this year’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Last year in Paris, wrestling sensation Odunayo Adekuoroye became Nigeria’s first-ever silver-medalist at the World Championships following a narrow 5-4 loss to Haruna Okuno of Japan in the final of the 55kg category.

Upcoming Major Tournaments This Year:
2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina (from October 6-18)

World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary (from October 20-28)

Senior U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania (from November 12-18)