WWC: Nigeria Bemoans Paucity Of Funds …Prunes Wrestlers’ Number

The Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF) last Thursday said that paucity of funds had forced it to prune the number of wrestlers for the forthcoming World Wrestling Championships in Paris.
The President of NWF, Daniel Igali, told newsmen that a full team was initially intended to represent the country.
Tidesports source gathered that the championships will commence on August 21and end on August 27.
“The technical committee had earlier recommended for all the gold medalists at the last African championships to attend.
“The current financial realities have forced us to prune the number to six.
“Funding the trip still remains a challenge as we have yet to raise the required funds to facilitate the wrestlers participation,’’ he said.
Igali, who is also a member of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, however, called on the sport’s lovers to come to their aid through funding.
“We are calling on Nigerians to come to our aid so that the wrestlers can participate and showcase their skills.
“They have prepared so hard and I don’t want their efforts to be in vain,’’ he said.
On the final team list, Igali said, that “we will unveil the number on the final list to the media about 10 days before the event.’’
It would be recalled that at the last edition of the World Championships which held in Las Vegas, Nigeria won a bronze medal through Adekuoroye Odunayo in the 53kg class.
In this edition, Adekuoroye will, however, be competing in the 55kg class.
The 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medalist said currently the wrestlers are in two camps.
“They are training in Bayelsa and Ondo states but very soon all of them will converge on Bayelsa for closed camping.
“The closed camping will help in watching them closely and working on all their lapses,’’ Igali said.
The Olympian added that he did not really have targets other than everyone giving their best.