By SHEDRACK FRANK

The President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Bashir Adeniyi, has urged members of Team Nigeria to display patriotism, commitment and determination as they prepare for the 2026 World Wrestling Championships.

Adeniyi gave the charge when he visited the wrestlers’ training camp in Yenagoa on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the wrestlers are intensifying preparations for the global competition scheduled for Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The NWF president commended the wrestlers for staying back in camp despite the Oct. 1 national holiday, having been camped for about two weeks.

According to him, this demonstrates their dedication to national service, reflects their patriotic spirit to represent Nigeria on the international stage and excel at the highest level.

Adeniyi urged the athletes to remain focused and disciplined throughout their preparation’s final phase, stressing that their performance in Kazakhstan would showcase Nigeria’s strength and potential in wrestling.

He charged the wrestlers to approach the championships with confidence and the mentality of athletes capable of producing outstanding results against the world’s best.

The NWF boss said the federation was determined to use the World Championships to make an ambitious statement about the progress and potential of Nigerian wrestling.

According to him, the federation has made deliberate efforts to strengthen preparations for the competition, including providing the athletes with the necessary training environment and support.

He noted the importance of the championships, saying that Olympic qualification tickets were at stake.

Adeniyi hoped that the federation’s commitment would be complemented by the athletes’ dedication, noting that success at the global level requires collective responsibility from administrators, coaches and wrestlers.

He encouraged the team to remain united and maintain a high level of team spirit, urging them to draw motivation from the privilege of wearing the Nigerian colours.

The NWF president expressed confidence in the quality and determination of the wrestlers in camp, while calling on them to seize the opportunity to take the wrestling world by surprise with their performances.

“For the women, where we have a very big chance, we’re going with about 10 of them.

“For the men, we’re going with three.

“We want to wish them well, encourage them to remain focused and ensure that they have the support and motivation they need to perform at their best,” he added. (NAN)