After days of competition, Wrestling events at the First Niger Delta Sports Festival came to a fitting finale at the Ultra Fit Sports Center in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom state.
Team Bayelsa emerged overall winners in Wrestling with a total of 11 medals : 7 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze while Ondo finished in distant second with 8 medals : 2 gold, 5 silver and 8 bronze as Rivers were third with 10 medals; 2 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze.
Edo occupied 4th spot with 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, Delta were fifth with 1 silver, 4 bronze, Imo came sixth with 4 bronze, Cross River 7th with 3 bronze while Abia were 8th with 2 bronze. Hosts, Akwa Ibom were last with no medal from the Wrestling mats.
A total of 48 medals comprising 12 gold, 12 silver and 24 medals were won in Wrestling.
On the last day of action, Bayelsa topped with 4 gold and a silver medal out of four events contested with Ondo winning the other gold.
Newlife Ebikeme of Bayelsa who beat Stimbowei Benjamin of Delta to clinch the 97 Kilogram men’s gold was full of joy for his achievement and says he is targeting a repeat at the National Sports Festival and the African Wrestling Championship later in 2025.
Earlier, Ebipatei Mughenbofa of Bayelsa won gold in women’s 68kg category ahead of Rose Odebe of Rivers while Harrison Onovwiomogbohwo of Bayelsa took gold in men’s 125 kg at the expense of Ladoja Idowu of Ondo. Ojo Damilola won gold in the women’s 76 kg women’s wrestling by defeating Favour Okporu of Bayelsa State.
Technical Director of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation and Technical Lead of Wrestling at the Niger Delta Sports Festival, Sir Damian Ohaike, described the event as successful, stressing that younger talents had emerged to take over from ageing wrestlers.
Sir Ohaike however, expects improvements in organisations, facilities, accommodation and early preparations in subsequent editions of the Niger Delta Sports Festival.
The inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival which began on April 1 will come to a climax on Tuesday morning at the Uyo Township Stadium
