Over 250 wrestlers drawn from 17 States across the country are taking part at the on-going 3rd Edition of Governor Timipre Sylva national Men and Women Open Wrestling Championship holding at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital.

The participating States are Cross River, Delta, Plateau, Bauchi, Lagos, Ebonyi, Imo, Ondo, Abia and Oyo. Others are Kano, Edo, Anambra, Kogi, FCT and host Bayelsa.

Meanwhile, Bekere John of Bayelsa State on Friday beat Balogun Idowu John from Ondo State to win the gold in the 35kg weight category while Odo Bassey Effiong from Cross River subdued Happiness Ebiama from Bayelsa State to win the 40kg weight class just as Dominic Julie of Bayelsa claimed the gold in the 46kg weight category.

Former world champion and Olympic gold medalist, Dr. Daniel Igali who is also the technical adviser of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation said the championship will be used to select those that will represent Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympic qualifiers in Europe and Africa early next year.

Igali was impressed with the quality of wrestlers taking part in the championship and expressed optimism that Nigerian wrestlers will qualify for the London 2012 Olympics with what he has seen at the championship.