The President of Nigerian Wrestling Federation (NWF), Mr. Daniel Igali has said that the qualification of the country’s male and female wrestlers for this year’s Olympic Games has only been delayed and not stopped by the postponement of this year’s Africa/Oceania qualifiers, due to worries over the fast-spreading Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.
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He further disclosed that all the wrestlers and their coaches, who were initially expected to travel out of Nigeria on Wednesday, have been decamped, pending the announcement of a new date for the tournament.
The wrestler-turned-administrator admitted that the postponement is a huge disappointment to the Nigerian team, as they had already started camping in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, with intense training and preparation for the qualifiers.
With COVID-19 having claimed over 3,000 lives globally, and more than 95,000 people affected in 80 countries, organizers felt it would be too risky to go ahead with the Africa/Oceania Tokyo 2020 qualifiers that had been slated for 13th to 15th March in El Jadida, Morocco.
Although only female 57kg grappler, Odunayo Adekuoroye has secured qualification among the Nigerian lot for the Tokyo 2020 Games, Igali assured that at least seven more of the country’s ace wrestlers will join her in Japan.
