Historic National Wrestling Championship Begins in Yenagoa with Beach Wrestling Debuts
Bayelsa State has again reinforced its status as Nigeria’s wrestling powerhouse as Yenagoa hosts the 4th edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classic, introducing beach wrestling for the first time in a national championship.
The week-long tournament, which runs from March 25 to April 1, 2026, is being organized by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Sports Development in collaboration with the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), drawing athletes from across the country and spotlighting emerging talents.
The historic inclusion of beach wrestling; a fast-growing global variant of the sport, marked a major highlight of the championship, with athletes competing on sand in fiercely contested bouts
Team Cross River emerged as one of the standout performers in the new category, recording impressive victories early in the competition.
Deborah Edet Ubana of Cross River opened the action with a notable victory over Blessing Apeh of Rivers State in the women’s 60kg category, setting the tone for an intense day of competition
Cross River further strengthened its dominance as Inah Johnson displayed superior technique and athleticism to overpower his opponent, securing another win for the team.
Other notable performances included:
Gabriel Ubana Edet — Gold medal, Men’s 55kg category.
Mbasekei Lawrence Ubi — Bronze medal, 57kg category.
Agoro Florence Sunday — Bronze medal, Women’s 49kg category.
Commissioner for Sports Development, BayelsaState, Hon. Daniel Igali described the introduction of beach wrestling as a significant step for the sport’s development in Nigeria.
Igali noted that beach wrestling has already been featured in the Youth Olympics and is being considered by the International Wrestling Federation for inclusion in future Olympic Games.
“This is an opportunity for Nigeria to key into a growing global sport and develop athletes that can compete internationally,” he said.
Vice President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Chris Amkpila, also emphasized the importance of the tournament in talent discovery and athlete development.
He explained that competitions such as the Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classic provide a platform for young wrestlers to showcase their abilities and attract national and international scouts.
“We are going to identify the talents here, nurture them, and take them to the international level,” Amkpila stated.
Also speaking, Lieutenant Colonel Okou Femedein Timipre, an international referee and Executive Secretary of the International Military Sports Council Defence Headquarters, Abuja, described the event as a strategic effort to popularize beach wrestling.
He noted that beach wrestling remains relatively new but holds strong potential for global growth.
“This competition is helping to introduce beach wrestling to the public and promote it as a sport that can gain worldwide acceptance,” he added.
The Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classic has grown steadily since inception, with Bayelsa State continuing to position itself as a major hub for wrestling development in Nigeria and Africa.
