NWF Fixes January 6 National Trials To Select 2026 Women’s Wrestling Team
With preparations for the 2026 wrestling season gaining momentum, the Nigeria Wrestling Federation has moved swiftly to ensure merit-based selection despite the postponement of a major ranking championship.
The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) has announced that it will hold national trials for selected weight classes as part of efforts to constitute the national team for the 2026 calendar year.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the Secretary General of the Federation, Oluwasegun Bode Ademisoro, the trials will take place on 6 January 2026 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.
The Federation explained that the trials became necessary following the indefinite postponement of the 4th Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Championship, which ordinarily serves as a ranking platform for national team selection.
The championship was postponed in honour of the late Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who passed away less than 48 hours before the event.
Ademisoro stressed that the trials are aimed at upholding fairness, meritocracy and competitive integrity in the selection process for athletes who will represent Nigeria in 2026.
He clarified that the trials will feature four women’s weight categories only, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg and 68kg, with four top-ranked wrestlers invited in each category based on their performances at major competitions, including the National Championships and the National Sports Festival.
The Federation added that a new date for the postponed Governor Douye Diri National Wrestling Championship will be announced later, noting that the event will still be used to determine rankings for other weight classes.
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