Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship: Otu pledges support for Nigerian team

Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has pledged support for Nigeria’s kabaddi team ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, The Sun reported. Otu directed officials to facilitate flight arrangements for the team through Lagos and challenged the athletes to return with medals. New Telegraph reported that Otu gave the assurance while receiving members of the Nigerian Kabaddi team and sports stakeholders, stressing that sports remained a priority of his administration because of their potential to create professional opportunities, empower young people and stimulate economic growth. The governor said his administration had consistently prioritised sports development, noting that sporting activities offered benefits beyond recreation. He explained that sports had become an important avenue for professional advancement and financial benefits, adding that the government was committed to creating an enabling environment for athletes to excel. According to him, government alone could not provide all the resources required to develop sports to modern standards, making private-sector participation essential. Otu commended the athletes for their dedication and sacrifices, assuring them that his administration would conduct the necessary assessment to determine appropriate support for their participation in the championship. He expressed optimism about the team’s prospects and urged the athletes to return with medals and honours that would inspire young people across the state. The governor acknowledged that winning was not guaranteed for every athlete, noting that participation in international competitions would provide valuable experience and motivation for future championships. Otu also directed officials to look into the team’s travel arrangements to Lagos ahead of the competition, asking them to confirm flight availability and facilitate the necessary arrangements, including tickets.

Context and what happens next

The 2026 Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship is the inaugural edition of the competition, held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, featuring national men’s and women’s teams from across the Commonwealth to promote the sport toward future inclusion in the main Commonwealth Games program. Earlier, the leader of the Kabaddi delegation, Mr Daniel Damola, commended Otu for supporting the introduction and development of kabaddi in Cross River State. Damola described Otu as the first governor in Nigeria to endorse the discipline and explained that kabaddi, which enjoys considerable popularity in Asian countries, was gradually expanding its presence across Africa. He disclosed that during a delegates’ meeting in Ahmedabad, India, representatives were informed of the governor’s support. The delegates subsequently voted to recognise Otu’s contribution, with the proposed honour scheduled for October 29, 2026, in India, according to The Sun. Damola expressed confidence that the recognition and continued government support would encourage more young people to embrace the sport. Collins Eko, the team’s Technical Head, praised Otu’s commitment and assured him that the athletes were determined to justify the confidence reposed in them, The Sun reported. Eko said the team would give its best at the championship, expressing optimism that a strong performance would raise Nigeria’s profile in kabaddi and attract more young people to the sport.

Key figures and dates from the sources

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Sources

• thesun.ng

• newtelegraphng.com

• Photo: Sumathiraju, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)