Host state, Oyo has emerged the overall winners of the 2024 Naija Taekwondo International Open concluded in Ibadan the state capital on Sunday.
The event, which saw competitors from across Nigeria and other African countries, featured intense contests that highlighted the depth of talent in the sport.
Oyo State topped the medal table with one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, narrowly beating Edo State with one gold, one silver, and one bronze. Ghana’s Megjorie TKD came third with one gold and one silver.
The winners are rewarded with cash prizes of ₦200,000 for gold medallists,₦100,000 for silver medallists, and ₦75,000 for bronze medallists.
The quarter-finalists got ₦25,000 each for their efforts.
Oyo State coach, Ayodele Temitope, in his remark expressed his excitement at the outcome and praised the organisers of the event.
He said; “Naija Taekwondo is one of a kind; the standard is great, the referees were fair, and everything went on successfully. I appreciate the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, for the privilege. I also appreciate the management, the secretary, the assistant coach, the athletes, and most importantly, the entire Naija Taekwondo team. With this, I can confidently say that the future of Oyo State Taekwondo is bright, and so is the future of Nigerian Taekwondo,” Temitope said.
He further emphasised that the success of the event signals a promising future for the sport in the state and beyond and that he expects the competition to continue.
“I believe this is going to be a continuous thing from the message from my chairman, Mr. Santos Akihlele Santos. And I also want to appreciate him personally for his efforts, for his passion, and for the support even to the team,” he added.
The tournament saw spirited performances from participants representing the various states, with Lagos State, Betika Kenya, and several academies making their mark.
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