Activities marking this year’s Korean Ambassadors Cup taekwondo championship will begin this Thursday in Abuja with the classification of para-athletes into various categories.
Sports247 reports that the venue is decked in beautiful colours and officials from the international body are already in town, much to the delight of Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) president, Tayo Popoola.
The taekwondo boss was beaming with delight as she revealed elaborate plans that have been put in place, while Korea’s ambassador to Nigeria, Yo-an Jeong added that the competition’s 14th edition will be a big event staged in accordance with world best practices.
Popoola added that bouts will begin on Friday in the sports hall of Moshood Abiola National Stadium and end at MO Arena, both in Abuja, a day after the classification of special athletes, who are preparing to attend the para-taekwondo global championship.
She further disclosed that officials of World Taekwondo will take charge of the classifiers on Thursday and the championship proper, much to the delight of Ambassador Yo-an Jeong, who enthused that the much-expected championship will be highly interesting.
While thanking National Sports Commission (NSC) officials for their support, the NTF’s president added that a Kukkiwon demonstration team will also be in Abuja to add extra global appeal and prominence to the event’s international status.
Popoola submitted: “It has been weeks of so much hard work in preparation for this event. The registration has been overwhelming till we had to stop and now we are fully set for the competition.
“The Korean Ambassador is very happy about the preparations just as the NSC are keen on the event. We are set and very optimistic of a big event.”
Sports247 reports further that the competition is set to propel Nigeria into another phase of enhanced development and promotion of the ancient martial art of taekwondo, in which Popoola used to be an active competitor.
