The Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), the organisers of the forthcoming first edition of the Michael Opeyemi Bamidele National Taekwondo championship, has said that the equipment to be used for the event will be new ones in accordance with global standards.
The President of NTF, Tayo Popoola, told our correspondent on Wednesday that all was set for the two-day event.
She noted that the new equipment will serve as additional motivation for the athletes to put up their best in the competition which is the first edition.
A former Commissioner for Sports and ex- Commissioner for Information and strategy in Lagos State, Opeyemi Bamidele, is the sponsor of the tournament expected to be part of the build-up of the NTF for future international engagements like the Africa Games and the Olympic Games.
Bamidele, a Senator of the Federal Republic, sees sports as one of the ways of promoting unity and boosting youth empowerment. He has encouraged different sporting events in the past.
“We are not in anyway taking chances with the MOB Championship because the sponsor is someone who wants perfection in all areas and that is why we are trying to stage an event that is in conformity with global standards. New equipment to be used are ready and all the athletes will also be happy to be part of this,” Popoola said.
All the states of the federation and Abuja are expected to participate in the forthcoming event along with clubs all over the country just as the para military bodies have also signified intention to be part of the event.
“We are all set to stage a world class taekwondo event right here in Nigeria,” Popoola added.
The Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium will host the event on Friday and Saturday September 18 and 19.
