Nigerian Taekwondo team departs for Germany
28/7/2008 16:50
The taekwondo team departed Nigeria at weekend for Germany to finalize
preparation for next month's Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, local media reported
today.
The three-man team has Chika Chukwumerije, Adamu Issah and national
coach, Osita Egwin as members.
Twenty-five-year old Chukwumerije is African
champion, having clinched gold medal at the last All Africa Games, which took
place in Algeria.
The Mechanical Engineering graduate of the Federal
University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) will be making his second appearance at
the Olympic Games. He was at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, where he lost
to Frenchman Pascal Gentil in the preliminary stage.
Isaah, who could not win
a medal at the All Africa Games, confirmed his maiden appearance at the global
multi-sports event at the African Olympic qualifiers in Tripoli, Libya.
Chukwumerije will be fighting in the 80 kilograms category while Issah will
compete in the 68 kilograms class. They are expected to join the Nigerian
contingent in Beijing early next month for the opening ceremony.
Two
Nigerians, who looked to secure tickets to the Games, Omoowa Omoregie and Amina
Mustapha, failed to make it. The duo won medals at the All Africa Games but was
edged out by North Africans.
It will be recalled that three athletes
represented Nigeria at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games in Greece - Chukwumerije,
Princess Dudu and Martins Obiorah.
Over 128 athletes across the world will
compete in eight weight classes in taekwondo.
Xinhua
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