3rd Korean Ambassador Taekwondo tourney ends tomorrow

The competition started since Friday but the opening ceremony held yesterday with all the participating states and officials in attendance. Taekwondo players from Niger Republic, Mali, Ghana, Benin Republic, and Togo are featuring in the four day tournament with Edo, Plateau, Ondo, Nasarawa, Benue, Abia, Anambra, Rivers, Lagos, Imo, Bayelsa, Kano and the FCT making […]

The competition started since Friday but the opening ceremony held yesterday with all the participating states and officials in attendance.

Taekwondo players from Niger Republic, Mali, Ghana, Benin Republic, and Togo are featuring in the four day tournament with Edo, Plateau, Ondo, Nasarawa, Benue, Abia, Anambra, Rivers, Lagos, Imo, Bayelsa, Kano and the FCT making up the states which are participating.

A total of 54 medals and other prizes from LG, the sponsor of the tournament are up for grabs by winners.

In his address at the opening ceremony, the Ambassador of Korea Republic to Nigeria, His Excellency Choi Jong-Hyun expressed gratitude that the competition is taking place in barely three months after his assumption of office.

He said to ensure fairer competition, for the first time, the organizers have introduced the use of an electronic score board system.

Ambassador Jong-Hyun also disclosed that the embassy of Korea has secured the services of Kumsi Haweon, one of the acclaimed taekwondo coaches in Korea to come and train the Nigerian national taekwondo team in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics.

He said: “I note with pleasure that the peoples of Korea and Nigeria have gotten closer through using common language of taekwondo which helps strengthen already close ties and partnership between the two countries”.

Jong-Hyun reiterated the commitment of the Republic of Korea to further promoting the game of taekwondo in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

Former Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, President, Engineer Habu Gumel thanked the Republic of Korea, particularly the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria and LG for contributing immensely to the development of Taekwondo in the country.

The member of IOC expressed happiness that the sport is waxing stronger in Nigeria as shown in the performance of Chika Chukuwemerije at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.