A wrestler from Kogi State, Gabriel Sani David has come out with a startling revelation that he learnt some techniques of the grapplers’ sport that his coaches were not aware of during the 8th National Youth Games in Asaba.
Although he insisted that the opponent he lost to was not better than him, David said in an exclusive interview with Sports247 that he gained extra skills from watching some of the other competitors in Asaba.
After he eventually settled for a bronze medal in the 52kg category, the smooth-talking youngster vowed that he would return home to work on his lapses and reasoned that he should return better next year.
David voiced his reflections thus: “It wasn’t easy, because it was different from what I saw last year. It was not the way I thought it would be this year.
“I just tried my best, dragging to get something and not go back empty-handed again. Bronze is at least something.”
He spoke further about the improvement he made this year, stressing that he has been able to put various experiences together to make himself a better wrestler.
“Last year, I was out in the second round. This time, I got to the semi-final but lost to an opponent from Ogun State. He did not take it like a joke at all.
“He was very serious in the fight, but I will not say he was better than me. All I say is, glory be to God,” Sani David sermonised.
He then submitted projections for the future, pointing out that he will put together all he learnt at Asaba 2024 and ensure that he becomes a better grappler in multiple of dimensions.
“As I go back to Kogi State, I am going to train harder and come back better. I have an assurance that, if I train harder, by this time next year, I won’t be the same.
“There will be many changes in me, because I was able to learn more techniques from other people here, and I will begin to use them.
“I will develop some more techniques, like the ones my coaches are not aware of, but I saw other wrestlers use them here.
“I will blend them with what I know and pick some things out of it to make me a better wrestler,” Sani David rationalised.
