Bayelsa, Ondo neck-and-neck as Wike Wrestling Championship ends

Bayelsa and Ondo states have once again proven to be the best when it comes to wrestling in Nigeria and by extension, among the best in Africa. Both states fought neck to neck till the closing ceremony of the first Governor Wike Wrestling Championship, which began on November 23 and ended yesterday in Port Harcourt.
 
This is just as the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye has expressed satisfaction with the level of competition and number of states that participated in the championship.  
 
Iyaye also reviewed Team Rivers not too impressive performance at the championship, saying they would go back to the drawing board to fashion out winning strategies.

As at the time of this report, Bayelsa led the medals table with 12 gold, 16 silver and 16 bronze medals, while Ondo State followed closely with 12 gold, four silver and four bronze medals.
 
Lagos State was in third position with six gold, one silver and three bronze medals, while Delta was in fourth position with five gold, six silver and eight bronze medals.
 
However, the medals table may have changed slightly as both Ondo and Bayelsa states were involved in some male finals in different categories before the closing ceremony.
 
With no major upsets, virtually all the reigning champions retained their titles. Commonwealth Gold Medalist, Odunayo Adekuoroye led the cast of impressive stars as she made a light work of her opponent Patience Kakada from Bayelsa State in the 57kg category.
 
Another gold medalist from the Commonwealth Games, Aminat Adeniyi also won Gold for Ondo by defeating Essien Akoh of Cross River State in the 62kg.Mercy Genesis, who defeated her fierce rival, Rosemary Nweke of Anambra State in the 50kg, started Bayelsa State’s gold medal haul.

Seven-time African champion, Blessing Oborududu also from Bayelsa defeated Yanyangbini Keketobou of Lagos in 10 seconds by technical superiority to win Gold in the 68kg.
 
In other results, African champion, Blessing Onyebuchi from Delta State defeated another African champion, Winnie Gofit of the Nigerian Army to win the 76kg category, while Hannah Reuben (Nigerian Army) beat Ebi Biogos (Bayelsa) in the 65kg.