Gambian wrestler Amadou Ndure raised the country’s flag high when he won a silver medal at the 8th Edition of the Ecowas Traditional Wrestling Championship held recently in the Nigerien capital, Niamey. Twelve West African countries took part in the championship. They are: The Gambia, Senegal, Togo, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Nigeria, Benin, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Mali and the host nation Niger.

The Gambia was among six countries that won medals; Niger won the group stage followed by Senegal and Nigeria. The Gambia, according to its head of delegation, Mamudou Max Jallow, was expected to be among the first three super nations but missed the group stage due to late arrival. The executive secretary of the National Sports Council explained that the Gambian team got stranded at Dakar airport on 19th April when they missed the flight.

“The Gambian team was caught up with huge traffic jam towards the airport in Dakar on 19th April while we were more than three hours delayed at the ferry terminal in Banjul. Nonetheless, the team arrived in Niamey safe and put up strong challenge to all the participating nations. 

The organising committee expressed delight for the participation of the Gambian team. The minister of Sports and Culture in Niger also expressed his delight and appreciation to the efforts of the Gambian team for a job well done,” he said.

The Gambia and Guinea Bissau teams arrived in Niamey on the first day of the competition to the delight of Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Togo. “We were told when The Gambian team was announced to arrive late, they were dancing because The Gambia, Nigeria, Niger and Senegal are regarded the toughest African nations for Traditional Wrestling,” Max stated. 

He said the Gambian athletes participated in the individual category in which Amadou Ndure captured a silver medal against Senegal. The Gambian team is expected back today, Wednesday, 25th April by the first ferry from Dakar. It has also been confirmed that Ecowas has recognised The Gambia to host the ‘Four Super Nations’ championship in July 2012.

Max Jallow also used the opportunity to thank the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Council and the Gambia Wrestling Association for their support that made Gambia’s participation a success.

The next Ecowas game is scheduled for the first week of June 2012 in Ghana and The Gambia is expected to send five sporting disciplines namely athletics, boxing, volleyball, handball and wrestling.