…Says state’s investment in sports is very beneficial to the nation
Bayelsa State Government says it is pleased with the continuous progress of the 13th National Wrestling Classics and 3rd edition under Governor Diri.
Governor Douye Diri made this known at the opening ceremony of the Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Capital.
Governor Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the hosting of the championship was not an accident as Bayelsa had dominance in wrestling right from the old Rivers State.
The governor noted that Bayelsa wrestlers made Rivers State proud at the global stage with the likes of Jackson Bidei, Hippo, Irigha Eferebo, Victor Kodei and Macaulay Appah He stated that the state government would continue to use sports as a tool for crime control.
According to him, the essence of hosting the tournament was beyond winning laurels but an avenue for wealth creation. The governor also noted that drugs and sports don’t go together and that the Bayelsa State Government is deliberate about the development of sports.
The State’s helmsman also declared the intention of the State to see more Daniel Igalis’and Blessing Oborududus’ triumph in tournaments at the global stage, pointing out that the Prosperity Administration has no regret investing hugely in sports.
Earlier in an address of welcome, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation and Commissioner for Sports Development, Bayelsa State, Dr Baraladei Daniel Igali, commended the government for the immense contribution towards the progress of wrestling in the last twelve years.
He asserted that the tournament is the longest running competition in any sports hosted by a state government, saying that the kind gesture was as a result of the love accorded to sports particularly wrestling by the government over the years.
Dr. Igali opined that the achievements of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation would be incomplete without mention of the wonderful support from the Bayelsa State Government. He pointed out that the Wrestling Federation has achieved more than any other Sports Federation in the nation.
In the tournament, proper, results from Day Two of the 3rd Gov Douye Diri/13th National Wrestling Classics have Christian Ogwusoya of Ondo State winning gold in the women’s 53kg, with Eswi Ayo of Edo State and Happiness Soso of Delta State picking the silver and bronze respectively.
In the 55kg women, Adijah Idris of Rivers clinched gold women’s, Tarilayefa Bekefula came second, and Joseph Ozioma of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps finished in third place.
Godday Eseimokumoh of Bayelsa in the 97kg secured gold, Edo State Bradford Gbaluimi came second as Ezekiel Appah of Rivers settled for third position.
In other results, Kuro Agustine of Delta came first in Greco-Roman as Ipalibo Somina and Odum Alokariton finished second and third in the 130kg
Burutu’s Preye Dike came first in the 52 Kg Greco-Roman, Cross River Usani Bassey settled for second and third position went to . . . Ebi Sambo of Bayelsa won in the 97k Greco-Roman while Shadrack Hunu of the Nigeria Police Force finished third position.
However, Progress Benson of Rivers in the 125kg freestyle came tops with Bayelsa Zikenna Amen in second while Maltida Doueridei could only manage third position.
The 3rd Gov Diri/13th National Wrestling Classics will enter Day Three on Thursday with the championship expected to climax on Saturday in Yenagoa.
