NAN-S-3
Para-Taekwondo
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, April 2, 2017 (NAN) George Ashiru, President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) on Sunday lauded the performance of Nigerian representatives at the Para-Taekwondo Championships holding in Kigali, Rwanda.
Ashiru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Faith Obazuaye won a gold medal in the female K44 (-58kg) category, while Samson Ukpera clinched the male K42 (-61kg) gold.
He said he was impressed with the skills exhibited by the athletes, and described their performances as impressive.
“I am happy that the athletes represented our country well, and showed good skills in the competition which qualified them for the gold medals in their categories and classes.
“The success of the two athletes is worthy of commendation because they went with every determination and at the end they brought honour to Nigeria,” the NTF president said.
He said the athletes’ performances have brightened their chances of world ranking for qualification ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where para-taekwondo will feature as a scoring event.
Ashiru told NAN that the championships held in Kigali from Saturday to Sunday was well attended.
He said athletes from countries such as Rwanda, the U.S., France, Germany, Serbia, Spain, Uzbekistan, Niger Republic, Morocco, Mozambique and Austria participated in the championships.
Others countries with athletes at the championships are Ghana, Lesotho, DR Congo, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Tunisia, Mali, Canada and the UK.(NAN)
MIL/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)