With the equipment meant for the third Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) International Taekwondo Opens already in the country, medalists at the 2015 African Games are eagerly waiting to taste action when the tournament begins on Saturday, October 24 in Abuja.
From the only gold medalist foe Nigeria in taekwondo at the 2015 African Games, Uzoamaka Otuadinma to the Silver medalist Nwosu Chinazum, the CCSF Open would surely afford them the opportunity to rub shoulders with the continental best fighters ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics Qualifiers in Morocco next year.
“I am indeed looking forward to the CCSF Open because it will afford us the opportunity to test our strength against some of the best athletes in Africa. Apart from aiming for the gold, it will help most of us to be focused ahead of the Olympics qualifiers particularly the use of the electronic head gear which we will be using for the first time as athletes. I know it is going to be easy but I am eager to do better than the bronze medal I won in 2014 when the second edition of the championship was held,” 25 year-old Otuadinma said.
Chinazum believes the tournament would provide the right platform for them to hone their skills. “CCSF International championship Open has been the best championship and I confess it is perfect for Nigerian athletes,” she said.
For Otuadinma, making it to the Rio 2016 Olympics remains her priority but competing at the CCSF Opens would have put her in good shape as well as the right frame of mind for the Olympics qualifiers holding in Morocco next year.
Commonwealth silver medalist, Adaeze Asigbe opines that the presence of athletes from other African countries would give Nigeria athletes the chance to test their might against the continental best. “A very good tournament that has thrown a bigger challenge to Nigerian competitors owing to the fact that they had the chance to face good athletes from other countries,” she said.
Also athlete from Niger Republic explained that the tournament has become the best in Africa. “The most fantastic tournament in Africa,” said Mohammed Toure.
Meanwhile, Daedo Electronic Head Gear and body gear System expected to be used for the tournament have arrived from Spain, while Dartfish Video Replay System and a foreign technician will be flown in from Egypt to handle system as the only tournament in Nigeria to use this system.
To inspire the athletes, free taekwondo uniforms will be given to first 100 persons to register as a way to empower athletes through equipments and they are imported from South Korea. The medals and trophies have also arrived from South Korea.