London's Commonwealth wrestling championships has become an eight-nation event after the Nigerian team ran out of gas this week. In the latest of a series of political mishaps that have plagued the international mat meet, the 15-member Nigerian squad is stuck at home because a nationwide strike to protest rising fuel prices has paralysed most travel in the African country. Talks resumed last night, but it was too late for the grapplers.
"There hasn't been a plane going in or out of Nigeria for a few days, the country is under martial law so the wrestlers are not going anywhere," said Bruce Barran, president of the host London-Western wrestling club. "We're disappointed. They were bringing a big team here."
Local organizers expected 14 countries and about 140 wrestlers to participate in the Commonwealth championships, which begin today at the Western Fair Sports Centre.
But the SARS scare, the federal government nixing visas for some Pakistan and Bangladesh wrestlers and Nigeria's fuel fight has whittled it down to eight countries and about 70 entrants for London's first international wrestling tournament since the Pan Am Olympic qualifiers in 1992.
Commonwealth amateur wrestling association chairperson Josip Mrkoci also said teams from Gambia and Tanzania, which had been longshots to show up, will not compete this weekend.
"There have been a lot of issues that have affected us, from the SARS to the visas and now the strike in Nigeria," he said. "I don't know what we could have done. The wrestling will still be great, but with less competitors, it means that every match will be like a semifinal or final."
Barran, the Commonwealth championships treasurer, felt the tournament still had a chance to generate a profit.
"I think we can, it just won't be as much as we thought we would be with the reduced number of wrestlers," he said.
The event schedule for today and tomorrow's action will not change. However, Barran warned a scheduled three-hour session could wrap up earlier than predicted.
"Organizationally, not much changes, you still need the same number of people for 70 wrestlers as you did for 140," he said. "You still need the same number of referees, the same mat space. We still have enough wrestlers for two pools in four men's categories.
"Plus, with a round-robin format, wrestlers are still going to get five or six matches, which is great."
The two biggest squads are Canada and India. New Zealand sent only one wrestler -- former Olympian Martin Liddle.
"The Indian men brought a superb team, they should win and I expect the Canadian women will be very good, too," Barran said.
After this weekend, many of the wrestlers will move on to Guelph to compete at the Canada Cup tournament.
WRESTLERS TO WATCH
Women
- Tara Hedican, Canada: Guelph wrestler is former world junior champion and No. 1-ranked North American in 63-kilogram weight class.
- Andrea Ross, Canada (55 kg): Londoner and Catholic Central grad was third at Canadian university championships this year.
- Terri McNutt, Canada (55 kg): Western nursing student lost to Ross in bronze medal match at university nationals.
- Katie Patroch, Canada: Londoner and Lakehead university star is the only Canadian woman in the 59-kilogram class.
- Kiran Sihag, India: Racked up six consecutive national titles at the 67-kilogram division.
Men
- Krishan Kumar, India: Won 2002 Commonwealth gold medal (60 kg) in Manchester, England.
- Palwinder Singh Cheema, India: Powerful superheavyweight (120 kg) also won Commonwealth gold last year.
- Martin Liddle, New Zealand: Auckland native wrestled in the 54 kg. class at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
EVENT SCHEDULE
(At Western Fair Sports Centre)
Today: Session 1, 9 a.m. to noon; Session 2, 1-5 p.m.; Session 3, 7-9 p.m.
Tomorrow: Session 4, 9 a.m. to noon; Session 5 (bronze medal matches), 1 p.m.; Finals, 4 p.m.
