NTF picks eight fighters for Olympic qualifiers
Eight taekwondo fighters will fight to win a spot in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil during the African Taekwondo Qualification Tournament from February 4 to 8 in Agadir, Morocco.
A total of 128 athletes will compete in the Rio Games, with 52 players already sealing their Olympic berths last year. Seventy-two tickets will be won via continental qualifiers this year. Hosts Brazil have been given four places while four athletes won wild cards courtesy of Tripartite Commission Invitations.
The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation said on Thursday the country would parade four taekwondoists in the men’s category and four in the women’s version of the African qualifiers.
According to the NTF Secretary-General Sunday Obot, Jamilu Mohammed, Edwin Samson, Chinazom Nwosu and Otuadinma will compete for tickets in the men’s event while Fatimah Abdulahi, Shola Olowookere, Adamu Isah and Esther Uzoukwu will fight in the women’s tournament.
He said the fighters were selected based on their performances at the Brazzaville 2015 All Africa Games in Congo.
The federation chief said, “We will be competing in the 58kg, -68kg, -57kg and -67kg. Only four weight categories are allowed per country — two men and two women in the qualifiers.”
Meanwhile, the national team will begin their camping in Lagos on January 22 as they intensify their preparations as they approach the final stages of their training for the Morocco qualifiers.
The NTF Publicity Committee Chairman Gideon Akinsola is backing the national team to return home with Olympic tickets.
The retired Assistant Commissioner of Police is also the Security Consultant for the Nigeria Football Federation.