It was praise galore at the Afolabi hall recently when the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Barrister Solomon Dalung played host to the victorious Wrestling and Canoeing Athletes who made the country proud at the 2019 African Wrestling Championship in Hammanet, Tunisia and at the Open International Canoe Sprint Championship in Bhopal, India.
The Minister in his speech described Wrestling as one of the strongest sports in the continent and even globally. He hailed the Wrestlers for distinguishing themselves and making the Team a force to reckon with more so ensuring that Nigeria occupies a global image in the sport.
Dalung said, sport has gone to the next level and is now being detected by the world and the world cannot wait for Nigeria”. He commended the Team for their qualification for the 2020 Olympic Games and for writing their name in Gold as the best in Africa
In the same vain, The Minister also gave kudos to the Canoeing Team for their outstanding performance in India and at the African championships. According to him, Canoeing is now one of the fastest growing Sport in the country having being resuscitated from the abyss.
He applauded the two Federation’s Presidents Honourable Daniel Igali and Rear Admiral Porbeni for their motivational leadership which he said has taken the Federations to greater heights and urged them to remain focused in their bid for a successful outing at the 2020 Olympic Games.
The victory he iterated has brightened the country’s prospect at the 2020 Olympic Games and promised that the Ministry will leave no stone unturned in providing an enabling environment for a successful outing in the game.
Earlier the President of the Nigeria Rowing, Canoeing and Sailing Federation Rear Admiral Porbeni reeled out some of the Federations achievements in both National and Continental level in recent times. He appealed to the Minister for the inclusion of the sport as one of the compulsory Sports at the National Sports Festival in Edo State in 2020, to which the Minister consented to.
A total of 13 Medals, 6 Gold, 2 Silver and 5 Bronze were won by the Wrestling Federation at the different categories in Tunisia while the Canoe Athletes also won 6 Medals which includes 1 Gold and 5 Bronze in Bhopal India.
Ulor A. Chioma
For : Director Press
