World veteran medalist tips Nigeria for wrestling dominance

World veterans wrestling medallist Mapsin Mika has predicted that Nigerian wrestlers will dominate the sport for years to come.

The Adamawa State-born coach, who is based in Brussels, Belgium, spoke over the weekend, weeks after the World Veterans Wrestling Championship in Amman, Jordan, where he beat five top opponents. He said Nigeria has quality wrestlers with the potential to become world champions.

“I must first of all congratulate myself placing third in my third participation in the World Veteran Wrestling Championship. I trained hard and endured so much before this success story,” he said.

He thanked Coach Babatunde James, Technical Director of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation; Purity Akor; Chief Maurice Atula, President of the Veteran Wrestlers of Nigeria; and Bashir Adeniyi, President of the federation and Controller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, for their moral, technical and financial support.

“Both veteran and youth wrestlers have total confidence in the top individuals and NWF. Nigerian wrestlers have been reassured of sufficient training and international opportunities for training and competitions. These are special boosts that would bring out the best from all of us,” he said, while hoping facilities and sponsorship would improve.

He added, “Veteran Wrestlers Association under the leadership of Maurice Atula have always called for regular wrestling championships at the six geopolitical zones. The wrestling federation is in full support of our ideology and we are working together for the growth of Nigeria wrestling. The Federation president is sponsoring championships and providing more contacts for development of wrestling.

“I am inspired by what I achieved at the World Veterans Wrestling Championship. I am sure other young and veteran wrestlers would aim for more now that we are guaranteed of more local and international championships and lots more.”

Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories