Funds may hinder wrestlers’ participation at world tourney

Nigerian wrestlers may miss out from the 2020 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, due to lack of funds.

The championships holds from December 12 to 20 but with less than two months to the competition, our correspondent learnt that Team Nigeria may not participate at the event, with funds yet to be approved for the tournament from the sports ministry.

A source close to the federation, who spoke to The PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, said the sports ministry may not release funds for the athletes to travel to Serbia.

“From the side of the federation, everything is ready but they are hoping that the ministry will approve the funds for the competition. This is very unlikely because the country is just bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic. This not a time the ministry will be willing to release funds for such competitions,” our source said.

Technical Director of the federation, Damien Ohaike, said the wrestlers were in great, adding that they were expecting funds from the sports ministry.

“Individually, our wrestlers have been training and they’re in form. Once the ministry gives us the go-ahead, we’ll participate. The aspect of finance is what we are waiting for but for the athletes, we’re ready.”

The competition serves as one of the preparatory tournaments for the wrestlers ahead of the 2020 Olympics qualifiers in March.