NAN-S-6
Classics
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Oct. 23, 2017 (NAN) Jimi Ogunowo, Chairman, Lagos State Taekwondo Association (LSTA), says the Electronic Scoring System (ESS) equipment, acquired recently by the body will be used at the 4th Lagos Taekwondo Classics.
“The use of ESS in this year’s edition of the Classics is part of our effort to improve the standard of the championships.
“We are determined to raise the standard of the competition, so, ESS would be used at the championships for the first time,’’ Ogunowo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
NAN reports that the championships would hold from Nov. 23 to Nov. 25 at the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.
“LSTA is a major stakeholder in taekwondo in the country, so we are expected to take the lead in everything that has to do with the development of the game in the country.
“These informed our determination to acquire the ESS,’’ he said.
The LSTA chairman said that the forthcoming championships would also give opportunities for international certified referees to be part of the officiating.
“We are trying to ensure fairness to all participating athletes, so opportunities will be given to certified referees to officiate,’’ he said.
Ogunowo said that Ghana, Togo, Mali, Senegal and the Republic of Benin have registered to take part in the championships, while Sierra Leone and Cote’ d’Ivoire had yet to confirm their participation.
He gave the assurance that athletes and spectators would have a memorable event.
“There will be musical entertainments from some invited artistes, while adequate security had been provided to ensure that the participants feel at home,’’ Ogunowo said.
He said championships would feature Poomsae, a demonstration event and Kyorugi, fight event in the senior male and female categories, as well as team’s and mixed events.
Ogunowo said that the Lagos State Sports Commission sponsored the championships in line with the state government policy on sports development. (NAN)
MIL/DEB/PDE
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(Edited by Debo Oshundun/Peter Ejiofor)