It was an Action filled event as Wrestlers from 4 Different states and 2 Wrestling Clubs in Nigeria gathered at the Gymnasium Hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State for the second Edition of the Edo State Invitational Amateur Wrestling Tournament.
The Event provided action-filled bouts which started on Saturday 6th of August and came to a thrilling end on Tuesday 9th of August.
The Tournament saw teams from Edo State, Kogi State, Delta State, Anambra State, Atula Wrestling Club and Onyebuchi Wrestling Club competing to win The 1.5 million naira and Medals on offer. The Event Kicked off with an Opening Ceremony which took place at the Mat of the Gymnasium Hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium as the Participating State Athletes wore the well-designed Tournament Shirts and Held Ballons While Dancing to songs.
Athletes squared off in different Weight categories for Senior and Cadet levels for both Male and females on the mat as Wrestling Officials, stakeholders and fans from across different parts of Nigeria.
After a series of Big battles and a show of strength and resilience from the Amateur Wrestlers, Bright Irobekham from Edo state finished in first position to win the Gold medal in the 72kg Male G/R with Nnaemeka K.C. from Anambra State finishing 2nd to win Silver and Joseph Anthony from Delta finishing 3rd to claim the Bronze Medal.
In the 60kg, Male G/R Dick Enenibodi from Edo state finished 1st to win Gold with ThankGod Destiny from the Atula Wrestling Club finishing 2nd to claim Silver.
For the Senior Female Category, Nwoye Ifeoma from Anambra finished first to claim the Gold Medal while Juliet Amakoro from the Atula Wrestling Club finished 2nd to win the silver medal and Kate Umunna from Edo State claimed Bronze after finishing 3rd. In the 55kg weight category Ozioma Joseph of Delta State emerged victorious to claim the Gold Medal, Rita Odede of Edo State finished in 2nd place to win Silver and Ayo Esewi of the Onyebuchi Wrestling Club walked away with Bronze while in the 57kg Category Faith Esosuokpo finished first to win Gold.
The Invitational Wrestling Championship also saw thrilling Action from the Cadet Level where Olaye Mattew from Kogi State finished first in the 41kg weight category to win Gold while Destiny Isa from Edo state claimed silver after finishing 2nd with Oriakhi Kelvin from the Onyebuchi Wrestling Club went home with the Bronze Medal after finishing 3rd.
Also In the 44Kg Event of the Cadet Level Akore Surly of Onyebuchi Wrestling Club won Gold after finishing first with Godspower Steve finishing 2nd to win Silver and Kelvin Erhunwerie claimed the bronze medal after finishing 3rd.
In the Male Cadet also, Kingsley Tonye from Edo state Claimed Gold in the 33kg category after finishing first with Atonwa Chukwuebuka from Anambra State winning the Silver Medal after finishing 2nd and the Bronze Medal going to Alabi Osaretin of Kogi State. While in the 30kg Cadet Iho Uhonoma Representing Kogi State finished first and walked away with Gold, Osasuyi Osamwonyi from Edo State finished 2nd and won Silver with Adodo Abraham claiming Bronze after finishing 3rd.
At the end of the Exciting Tournament, Edo State Finished First in the Overall Medal Standing after winning 11 Gold medals, 6 silver medals and 2 bronze Medals. Anambra State finished 2nd with 3 gold Medal and 3 Silver medals. Kogi State went home with 3 gold medals, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals to finish 3rd. Morris Atula Wrestling Club finished 4th with 2 Gold medals, 2 Silver medals and 1 bronze medal while Onyebuchi Wrestling Club won 1 gold medal, 2 silver medals and 2 bronze medals to finish 5th with Delta State finishing 6th after winning 1 Gold Medal, 1 Silver Medal and 2 bronze medals.
Earlier on, the Chairman of the Edo State Wrestling Association Morris Atula said the Second Edition of the Amateur Wrestling Tournament was geared towards ensuring the full development of young people’s potential through the ‘catch them young’ project by carrying out amateur wrestling events via the Edo State Invitational Amateur Wrestling Tournament.
“The provision of strategic championship supportive networks and initiatives for character development, entrepreneurial activities, sports and community-based civic initiatives would enable us to achieve the needful” he further explained.
The Chairman of the Edo State Wrestling Association who is a Former World Light Heavyweight Champion also said the Edo State Invitational Wrestling Championship will produce the future champions of the mat sport from our part of the world nationally, continentally and even world champions.
“The objective of sports activities is not only to promote the potential of young people in this field but also to equip them with business skills and acquaint them with social, economic and environmental issues. This holistic approach aims to empower young people to assume a responsible role in their communities in the future.
Through sports, many bridges can be built which promote collaboration and stimulate responsibility in communities. Sports are associated with an indisputably high social function like community leadership, community empowerment and sustainable development. In this way, newly acquired skills and talents can be reinvested in the community. Young people must be empowered through this project,” The Former Professional and one of the pioneers of professional Wrestling in Nigeria Emphasised the Emergence of new Wrestling talents.
Recall that the first edition which saw Ogiemwonyi Osaretin emerge as the overall winner and face of the Morris Atula championship took place last year accommodating only wrestlers from Edo State, but this edition becomes bigger with six teams and four states taking part in it.
The championship which had sparks and glamour saw winners emerging from various categories and carted home medals and presented their medals and certificate of participation.
Speaking at the championship, wrestling stakeholders registered their pleasure in what they saw, heaping praises on the chairman of the Edo Wrestling Association, Morris Atula and sending across their charge to other states to emulate what was being practised in Edo State.
A total sum of N1.5m prize money was won by winners at the just concluded second edition of the Morris Atula Invitational Wrestling Tournament held at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo state.
The gold medalist at the tournament went home with twenty thousand naira (20,000), the silver medalists with fifteen thousand naira (15,000) and the bronze medalists, ten thousand naira only (10,000) across all categories of both male and female alongside a certificate of awards to all the winners.
The 2023 edition will take place at Lokoja in Kogi State.