Team Nigeria has won a total of 21 medals, leading the medal table at the ongoing Africa Wrestling Championships holding at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.
The medals comprise nine gold, five silver and seven bronze.
In the women category, the team won 10 medals comprising six gold, two silver and two bronze, while the men have 11 medals of three gold, three silver and five bronze.
The medals were won in the concluded events of cadet Freestyle, cadet Greco-Roman and cadet women’s Wrestling.
A 16-year-old Stephen Akintewe of Akure High School, Akure, Ondo State, won a gold medal in the 60kg cadet attributing his victory to hard work.
Akintewe told NAN that he gave his all to training and took each bout cautiously following his coach’s instructions.
“While preparing for this tournament, I took all corrections seriously and did all that the coach asked me to do.
“This victory is as a result of hard work and taking each fight as they come.
“This is my first appearance at the Africa Championships and I’m very happy to win the gold medal,” he said.
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The gold medalist added that the feat would spur him to get better in the game so as to further represent the country at future tournaments.
“I believe if I can improve more on myself, there’s still a lot I can do for my dear country. I will go back to improve on my skill,” Akinteye said.
NAN reports that the competition which commenced on February 7 will end February 11.
No fewer than 90 wrestlers are representing Nigeria at the championship.
The participating countries are Nigeria, Liberia, Egypt, Morocco, Guinea-Bissau, Tunisia, Algeria, Namibia, Kenya, Burundi, Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Central Africa Republic and Madagascar.
