Taekwondo Federation President Tayo Popoola Looks Beyond African Championship In Mali

The president of Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Tayo Popoola has disclosed that the body’s attention is on future international events that go far beyond this year’s continental championship that began on Friday in Bamako, Mali.

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Sports247 reports that Popoola explained that Nigeria is at the going African Taekwondo Championship with a huge contingent for the first time, including para-athletes among able bodied ones, to show NTF is planning for the future.

Popoola added that the development aligns with the federation’s plans to build a national team capable of competing for medals at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA as well as at future editions of the African Games.

She also pointed out that the National Taekwondo Federation Open Trials at Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State was a hugely successful venture, as more than 300 athletes competed over three days in the Poomsae and Kyorugi events.

The taekwondo president pointed out that the trials produced the core of Nigeria’s contingent for the continental competition which, for the first time, included para-athletes alongside competitors in Poomsae and Kyorugi categories.

She also pointed to the successful completion of a Kukkiwon Dan certification exercise in Nigeria, describing it as a major step for athletes seeking to compete internationally, and enthused that all these factors show progress for the sport.

Popoola added: “Such a large contingent shows that Nigerian Taekwondo is moving in the right direction. In Taekwondo, athletes must possess Kukkiwon certification to participate globally, and we have completed that in Nigeria.”

The post Taekwondo Federation President Tayo Popoola Looks Beyond African Championship In Mali first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.

The post Taekwondo Federation President Tayo Popoola Looks Beyond African Championship In Mali appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.