By Eunice Nnachi, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State has once again affirmed its reputation as Nigeria’s wrestling powerhouse as Yenagoa plays host to the 4th edition of the Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Classic, with the historic introduction of beach wrestling into a national championship.
The week-long competition, running from March 25 to April 1, 2026, is organised by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Sports Development in collaboration with the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), attracting athletes from across the country and showcasing emerging talents.
A major highlight of this year’s event is the debut of beach wrestling, a fast-rising global variant of the sport, with athletes battling on sand in highly competitive bouts.
Team Cross River quickly stamped its authority in the new category, recording impressive early victories. Deborah Edet Ubana set the pace with a strong win over Blessing Apeh of Rivers State in the women’s 60kg category, while Inah Johnson followed up with another dominant performance to secure victory for the team.
Other standout performances saw Gabriel Ubana Edet claim gold in the men’s 55kg category, Mbasekei Lawrence Ubi secure bronze in the 57kg category, and Agoro Florence Sunday pick up bronze in the women’s 49kg division.
Commissioner for Sports Development in Bayelsa State, Hon. Daniel Igali, described the inclusion of beach wrestling as a major boost for the sport in Nigeria.
“The introduction of beach wrestling is a significant step for the development of the sport in Nigeria. It has already featured in the Youth Olympics and is being considered for future Olympic Games,” Igali said.
“This is an opportunity for Nigeria to key into a growing global sport and develop athletes that can compete internationally.”
Vice President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Chris Amkpila, highlighted the importance of the tournament in discovering and nurturing young talents.
“Competitions like the Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classic give young wrestlers a platform to showcase their abilities and attract attention,” Amkpila stated.
“We are going to identify the talents here, nurture them, and take them to the international level.”
Also speaking, Lieutenant Colonel Okou Femedein Timipre, an international referee and Executive Secretary of the International Military Sports Council, Defence Headquarters Abuja, described the championship as a strategic move to promote beach wrestling.
“Beach wrestling is still relatively new, but it has strong potential for global growth,” he said.
“This competition is helping to introduce it to the public and promote it as a sport that can gain worldwide acceptance.”
The Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classic continues to grow in stature, with Bayelsa State further solidifying its position as a leading hub for wrestling development in Nigeria and across Africa.
