Nigeria to open camp for wrestlers ahead of Olympic Games

A camp will be opened this week for seven Olympic-bound wrestlers from Nigeria, authorities in the West African country said.

President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation Daniel Igali told reporters on Monday in Lagos that it decided to open camp this week for the wrestlers because the Federal Ministry of Sports was taking too long to announce the take-off date for training of the Olympians, reports Xinhua.

"The federation can no longer wait for the Ministry of Sports' pre-Olympic official camping. The Olympics would be held in August and preparations for camping and even for training tours are yet to commence," said the local wrestling federation boss.

He said the date earlier fixed by the federal Ministry of Sports for the commencement of camping had lapsed, adding that the wrestlers will remain at the federation's camp, pending the time the ministry comes up with its camp.

Igali said the seven wrestlers already invited to the camp include two males and five females who qualified for the Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro during August 5-21.

--IANS

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