A cross section of coaches in the country has lauded the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation led by Margaret Binga for organising the first ever G1 championship in the country.
The tournament sanctioned by the World Taekwondo (WT) is a ranking event with players aiming for world ranking points in their quest to garner enough points to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Two times Olympian, Isah Adam (OLY) told www.aclspors.com that the Nigeria Open will help Nigeria athletes prepare ahead of the 2019 All Africa Games in Morocco.
The Kano state taekwondo coach charged Nigeria athletes to put in their best during the event.
Coach of Classix, Abdulmalik Mohammad said the tournament has giving some home based athletes the chance of fighting with foreign based for the first time.
He said, “This is a welcomed development and it has given some athletes the opportunity to partake in a WTF sanctioned championship and will change the mentality of the athletes.
“If Nigeria can host this kind of tournament, I believe we have what is takes to host either a G2 championship or the President Cup”, he added.
One of the Nigeria’s foremost taekwondo coaches, Ahmed Adekola-Kazeem said the event has giving Nigeria a good exposure to conquer the world.
The Q-MADI coach said, “It will also put the Nigeria Taekwondo federation on the world map and hopefully we will be able to win the right to host the World Championship and Grand Prix in the not too far future.”
Former African champion, Uche Chukwumerije said he is satisfied with the organisation of the Nigeria Taekwondo International Open adding that it will help the athletes grow.
Chukwumerije told www.aclsports.com that the event has exposed grassroots athletes and competing against foreigners will boost their psyche.
Team Nigeria coach, John Victor expressed satisfaction with the ongoing championship.
152 taekwondists from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Congo DRC, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Mali, Niger Republic, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, US and host, Nigeria will compete in the 16 Olympic weight categories.
