By Fisayo Dairo
Bayelsa state continue to enhance their growing reputation in Wrestling as they blazed through the Traditional Wrestling event of the Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo.
Team Bayelsa claimed seven of the eight gold medals available in the Sport which came to a thrilling climax on Saturday afternoon at the Uyo Township Stadium.
With the state’s Sports Ministry under the saddle of a former Wrestler Daniel Igali, Team Bayelsa had a clean sweep of all four gold medals in the Women’s event.
Weyinkurokiye Andrew, Mercy Oyeloa and Bekefula Tarilayefa won Gold in the Women’s 45kg, 55kg and 60kg categories before Ebipatei Mugienbofa dazzled with a thrilling win over an obviously mammoth Marvellous Otemuyiwa of Ondo state in the 70kg final.
Team Bayelsa’s trio of Titi Kuromeyefa, Eregha Dedekemei and Newlife Ebikeme won Gold in the Men’s 60kg, 75kg and 90kg+ categories leaving one gold medal for Delta state which was claimed by Bayelsa-born Eguda Pereladei.
Tournament coordinator Okuru Egbe expressed his happiness with how the games went in a hitch-free manner.
“We are very happy to have successfully concluded the Traditional Wrestling event without any issues. It was a good tournament, no complaints from all the participants which is a very good thing for the organisers.
“I must commend all the teams that participated for abiding by the rules and regulations and we thank the organisers for putting together this competition,” Egbe told NDSF Media.
While Bayelsa finished top of the Traditional Wrestling medals table with seven gold and one bronze medals, Delta finished second with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
Imo finished third with three silver and three bronze medals while Ondo state finished fourth with two silver and one bronze medals. Cross River with one silver and four bronze as well as hosts Akwa Ibom with one silver and two bronze medals follow on the medals table.
