Olympics: Nigerian Wrestlers Step Up Preparation

In a bid to step up their chances ahead of the qualifiers for the fast approaching London 2012 Olympics, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, NWF has called its wrestlers to camp.

This much was disclosed by the Technical Director of NWF, Daniel Igali. He said that the Olympic qualifiers will hold later this month in two countries; Finland and China.

Igali, who won gold medal for Canada in the Men’s 69 kg Freestyle wrestling at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, said: “We are presently back in camp in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State getting set for the qualifiers in Finland and China. We intend to continue to strategise for the next two weeks before we depart for the event slated for China from 27-29 April and then move to Finland to feature in the qualifiers from 2-4 May, 2012.”

His worry is that a few other world champions who are yet to qualify for the Olympics and would be featuring at the tourneys.

“In the 60kg category, there are about four other world champions competing at the qualifiers. If my athletes can pull through that, then Nigeria’s hope of winning a medal in that category will be bright,” he said.

“The problem with our wrestlers is that there are no competitions to sharpen their skills regularly.”

Four Nigerian wrestlers have qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games slated for 27 July to12 August in London.

—Bamidele Olowosagba