LAGOS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The performance of Nigerian wrestlers at the just-concluded African Wrestling Championships in the southern city of Port Harcourt, will spur them on for more successes at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, an official said Thursday.
Daniel Igali, President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation, made the remarks in a meeting with Fouad Meskout, African President of the United World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
He said Nigerian wrestlers won a total of 50 medals: 22 gold, 28 silver and a bronze at the championships.
Igali said the wrestlers had commenced training in preparation for the Commonwealth Games, noting that many of them were currently in his wresting theater in Yenagoa.
According to him, athletes from across 14 countries in Africa are currently training ahead of the Commonwealth Games coming up in April.
"In six weeks time, we're going to the Games in Gold Coast, Australia and Nigerian athletes aim to consolidate on the successes of the just-concluded African Wrestling Championships," he added.
For his part, Meskout commended Nigerian athletes on their outstanding performance at the championships in Port Harcourt, saying that Africa is proud of them.
"Nigeria is actually taking the center stage as far as wrestling is concerned, and they have proved to be the pride of Africa in the world," he added.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXI Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth that will be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia between April 4 and 15, 2018.
