Nzelu Chukwudi, a six-time Korea Cup Champion, is ready to represent Nigeria at the 2023 African Taekwondo Championship in Côte d’Ivoire.
The 2023 African Taekwondo Championship which is a G4 level event is scheduled for 11th to 12th November in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Nzelu Chukwudi from the Nigeria Army won the men’s -87kg final at the 11th Korea Ambassador Cup in Abuja.
According to the 2022 National Sports Festival champion, there is a possibility of winning a medal for Nigeria at the African Championship, saying that the Nigerian Army has boosted his morale after years of neglect.
Chukwudi said, “I feel great winning my sixth title at this year’s Korea Ambassador Cup and I am thankful because I prepared very well for the Championship; winning gold is my birth right.
“I am preparing every day for the African Games in Ghana. That is one of the reasons I had to attend the Korea Ambassador Cup to know my fitness level. The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation wants to go to the upcoming African Championship in Cote d’Ivoire in November, and I’m confident we will win a medal.
“When you are prepared, you get little or no support and by then one’s morale is low. The act has killed my morale for Taekwondo but I feel those days are pass now. The Nigeria Army has promised to support elite athletes and they have shown positivity since I joined”, he said.
He urged upcoming athletes not to neglect education while focusing on sports.
He said, “I am advising young athletes to focus on their education and mix with sports because they don’t know where they will meet themselves. One of the most important things in being a champion is dedication and discipline”.
Let’s go champ!