By Hosea Parah
The Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF) has concluded its open camp programme in Oklahoma, U.S., ahead of the World Wrestling Championships later this year in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The NWF Head of Media, Promise Okotoko, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the training camp provided Nigerian wrestlers with valuable exposure and a competitive environment to sharpen their skills ahead of the global championship.
“As part of the programme, the wrestlers had the opportunity to compete in dual meets against athletes from various NCAA Division I schools in the U.S. It gave the team a chance to test its strength against high-level opposition,” he said.
Nigeria’s Women’s Wrestling head coach, Akuh Purity, who guided the athletes during their time in camp, described the camp as a valuable training and preparatory experience.
“We continue to intensify our training and remain fully focused on improving our performance. It was a very valuable experience and gave us an excellent opportunity to assess where we currently stand,” Purity said.
He said that the girls are committed and are working hard to improve before the championship.
“The girls are working extremely hard, and we remain committed to making the necessary improvements as we continue our preparation,” he said.
The Nigerian wrestling team is aiming to return to a podium finish, last achieved in 2023.