NO fewer than 500 children have been penciled down to participate in the maiden South-East taekwondo club competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition would be the first ever zonal taekwondo school children age programme in the region.

The state Chairman of Taekwondo Association, Ebere Amaraizu, told NAN in Enugu on Friday that modalities had been put in place by the association for a successful and historic competition.

Amaraizu said that competition would be amongst various taekwondo kids’ academies within South-East and would be held in August.

He said that it would be taking place at the indoor sports centre of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

According to him, kids from the ages of six to 18 years within primary and post-primary schools in various categories will be participating in the competition.

“The competition will also attract the presence of the Nigerian High Grandmaster,  Emmanuel Ikpeme, who is also 9th Dan black belt in taekwondo.

“Ikpeme will use the occasion to present black belts to the students who have attained the noble height in the game of taekwondo,’’ he said.

Amaraizu underscored the benefits in the game of taekwondo such as exposing children to self-discipline, integrity, endurance and perseverance.

“Our seasoned and dedicated coaches in our taekwondo academies ensures that our children are well developed in martial art skills as well as enhancing their self-discipline which helps to guide them to the right part of life.

“We are striving so hard to catch-them-young with right attitude and discipline for a greater tomorrow and that is one of the vision and mission statement of the Enugu State Taekwondo Association,’’ he said.

He called for the cooperation and support of the media, government agencies, corporate bodies and sports loving individuals to make the competition and taekwondo a huge success in South-East and in Nigeria in general.

-NAN

BE

– June 5, 2019 @ 08:15 GMT /