The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) is set to open camp for the forthcoming Africa/Oceania Olympic qualifiers.
The NWF fixed Monday next week to start camping the athletes in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, ahead of the qualifiers which would take place in the Moroccan city of El Jadida from March 13 to 15.
Ten wrestlers – both male and female – who competed and excelled at the recently concluded African Championships in Algiers, alongside their sparring partners, are expected to intensify training in Yenagoa during the camping period before the final selection and departure to Morocco for the qualifiers.
During the camping exercise, the wrestlers will be guided by coaches Purity Akuh, Victor Kodei, Joe Oziti, and Happiness Burutu.
NWF President, Daniel Igali, has confirmed that there are no automatic places for athletes as selection will be on merit.
“Seriousness in training, determination and strong desire to compete are some of the criteria that will be used to choose who makes the team to Morocco,” he revealed.
The Olympic champion added, “All invited athletes, with their sparring partners, are expected in Yenagoa latest on Sunday to commence training the next day.”
Only Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) has secured qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics so far.
The six-time African champion booked her place in Tokyo by winning bronze at the World Championships in Kazakhstan last year, making it her third medal at the world stage.
The federation is confident that no fewer than six more athletes will join Adekuoroye to compete in Tokyo.
Seven wrestlers represented Nigeria at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
