The Nigeria Military Wrestlers, Corporal Hannah Reuben and Lance Corporal Ojolaide who won the Gold medal and the Silver medals respectively at the just concluded World Military Wrestling Championship, Baku have presented their medals to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa.
Presenting the Gold and Silver medals to the Defence Chief at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, the Director of Sport (DHQ), Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquiu thanked the Chief of Defence Staff for motivating the Nigerian Military Wrestlers to participate in the 36th World Military Wrestling Championship, an international Championship where athletes represent their countries.
Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquiu said their take home is the power of representation, quality representation and technical representation. He said they observed that at the competition, nations invested in technical representation, that is the referees, the judges and the technical aspect of the sport.
He stressed that Sport is a science, therefore there is a need to develop military capacity in that area. He noted also that sports can make Nigeria more visible, generate revenue, and reduce poverty in Nigeria. "Sport can enhance physical fitness for operational readiness and efficiency. Leadership is all about taking people from where they are to where they ought to be and we have seen this in you sir".
Presenting the glorious Nigeria Military Wrestlers, the Director thanked CDS for supporting the strategic importance of the role sports played in making a country visible, motivating the Armed Forces team and providing all requirements in sporting engagement.
Receiving the Medalists and their medals, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa lauded the gold and silver medalists, congratulated them for making the armed Forces of Nigeria proud.
The CDS said, "we actually participated and we ended up winning well and winning medals, especially winning a gold and a silver. So a round of applause for all of you.Let me start by commending the two very senior officers, AVM Abidemi and OSMA president Maj General Maikano for not giving up, for their persistence, for going through selection of wrestlers.
He also commended the coaches efforts for training, the wrestlers. He commended the athletes, for their determination, courage, "Its a good one because the is the first experience, the next one we will prepare better.
SpyeTV News report that the Nigeria Military Wrestlers broke a 50-year record by winning a Gold medal at the 36th World Military Wrestling Championship. CISM World Wrestling Championship started in 1973 in which the Military Wrestlers have gotten Silver, and bronze medals but have never won a gold medal until 2023.
