Wrestlers to compete in 90 weight classes at Gov Wike Challenge Cup

By Akeem Lawal

THE maiden edition of the Governor Wike National Wrestling Challenge Cup will hold at the Rivers State Indoor Sports Complex, Port Harcourt the Rivers capital city from November 23 to 30, 2017.
The competition sponsored by the Governor of Rivers State, Neysom Wike will feature a total of 90 weight classes with wrestlers competing for honours in all three styles (Greco-Roman, Female Wresling and Men’s Freestyle) in the Cadet, Junior and Senior with 10 new weight categories each for all the styles.

Technical Director of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Sir Damien Ohaike informed Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com that the championship will be a prelude to the 2018 Cadet, Junior and Senior African Wrestling Championships that will hold in Port Harcourt, next year.

Nigeria beat Tunisia to win the hosting rights for the African Wrestling Championships that is scheduled to take place in February 7 – 11, 2017.

“All is now set for the Governor Wike Challenge Cup next month. It is the first one for the governor and it will serve as preparation for the main competition in February next year. We want to use it to test run the facilities at the Rivers State Indoor Sports Complex.

“It is open championship and we are expecting wrestlers from all the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja even though not all of the states might feature in the 90 weight classes. Athletes from the Nigeria Army, Road Safety are also coming.

“So you are going to see new raw talents rubbing shoulders with the established ones like Amas Daniel, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Aminat Adeniyi and others,” Ohaike told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com.