NTF unveil 2015 plans, crave support

To ensure that its 2014 feats are consolidated, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) during the week unveiled its major plans for 2015 while calling for more support to the sport from private and public sectors.

  According to the President of NTF, George Ashiru, 2014 was worthwhile for the sports following the successes recorded locally and internationally.
George in a chat with National DailySportssaid his assessment was based on the fact that the federation was able to achieve a sizable chunk of their objectives.

“What we desired most was developmental in theoutgoing year and we were able to attain a large percentage of that by discovering young athletes that have shown potentials  that they could take over from the likes of Chika Chukwumerije.

“We were able to organized six tournaments this year and took part in five international competitions this were very encouraging. At the maiden National Youth Games, we wanted to unearth new athletes and we are now enjoying the benefits of that plan as some of these athletes are doing well even at international levels” he said.

According to him,“Two of the discovered athletes featured at the World Junior Championships and despite not winning medals exhibited great potentials. They proved our suspicions right by winning gold medals at the Commonwealth Championships in Edinburg, Scotland.

Ashiru, who is the Vice President, Commonwealth Taekwondo Union (CTU) added that with more support, taekwondo has the potential to win more medals for Nigeria at international competitions.

  Ashiru disclosed that the country with that with 15 athletes at the Commonwealth Games won 10 medals to finish fourth overall compared to countries that came with over 80 athletes.

“This goes to show that we have quality. But we will not be carried away by this feat because top nations like Korea, United States, and others were not at the tournaments but it was a good platform for us to assess our athletes.

The NTF boss however, said that efforts would be geared towards getting more exposure for the athletes.

  He concluded that the 2015 World Championships and All Africa Games as the two major tournaments that are crucial to the country’s qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He cannot specifically confirm that they have the athletes that can compete well at the Olympic Games in Brazil because like other nations that considers tall athletes from other sports to represent them at the Olympics. They will also consider this workable system to identify tall athletes from other sport and we are intending to train them to become world beaters.