2024 Olympic: KCC begins preparation of taekwondo athletes

The Korea Cultural Centre, Nigeria on Friday commenced the preparation of its athletes for the 2024 Olympics slated to hold in Paris, France.
The Co-ordinating Coach of KCCN, Abduul-Malik Mohammed, disclosed this to newsmen at the In-House Mini Teakwando’s Pomsae/Gyorugi Championships for kids in Abuja.
Mohammed said the event was to boost Nigeria’s medal prospects in taekwondo at the 2024 Olympic Games.
He said the event was to expose the kids to Korean culture, martial art, and instill confidence in them ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Mohammed said the championship would focus on improving the skills of kids’ and noted that it was a grassroots programme.
According to him, the KCC holds three quarters in a year, after which examinations and mini tournaments are organised for the kids to exhibit their skills.
He said: “It is what we do every time to enable the kids’ exhibit what they have learned overtime. The bottom line is to prepare them for 2024 Olympic Games.’’
The coach said that KCC decided to hold the championship since the regular Chika Chukwumerije championships had not held for some time.
He said the mini championship was a good initiative that would be of immense benefit to Nigeria, given the quality of the equipment in the centre.
He said: “Since we don’t have external grassroots programmes to feature the children, we felt that continuing the in-house mini championships will boost their morale.
“We are working on sending some of the children to Korea for more training during the World Youth Taekwondo Camp. We are supposed to have one this year, but it was not budgeted for.
“But KCC have been given the assurance that by next year, God willing, we will start taking them through the World Youth Taekwondo Camp.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that no fewer than 40 children took part in the championships.
In the Olympic style sparring for over 10 and above, Faisal Muazu came first, while Ikechukwu Chizea and Nwachukwu Chizea came second and third respectively.
For the Poomsae for yellow belt, Faisal Muazu came first, while Enejoh Michelle and Juhita Sree came second and third respectively.
While in the Green/Blue Belt Poomsae, Nwachukwu Chizea emerged the winner, followed by Ndubisi Chizea and Nimisha Deshmukeh in the second and third positions respectively.