Bamidele Pledges Annual National Taekwondo Championship

…Rivers athletes dominate MOB tournament

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has pledged to make the National Taekwondo Team Championship an annual event, with the competition expected to rotate across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

Bamidele, sponsor of the inaugural Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (MOB) Taekwondo Championship, made the commitment on Saturday during the closing ceremony of the two-day competition at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The championship attracted athletes from states, clubs and para-military formations and ended with a colourful closing ceremony attended by Bamidele and other stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, Bamidele said the tournament would not be a one-off competition, adding that the second edition would return to Lagos before subsequently moving to other parts of the country.

“I am very elated to see youths competing in a very good atmosphere and I want to first confirm that this will not be a one-off event, rather, it will be annual.

“This competition will go round the geopolitical zones in the country, but the second edition will still be in Lagos. It will take place at Teslim Balogun Stadium,” he said.

The former Commissioner for Youth and Sports also announced additional financial rewards for athletes and officials who participated in the inaugural championship.

“I hereby double the prize money of all the athletes, while all the officials will get an additional special cash package for their efforts in helping to develop the game,” Bamidele said.

He commended the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), led by Grand Master Tayo Popoola, for its efforts in promoting the sport.

“We just have to keep this event going and it has to be better every year,” he added.

Rivers State emerged as one of the outstanding performers at the championship, claiming gold in both the senior male and senior female categories.

In the senior mixed competition, Rivers won gold, Comprehensive Club took silver, while University of Lagos A settled for bronze.

Rivers also topped the senior female category, with the University of Lagos winning silver and Osun State taking bronze.

In the senior male category, Rivers claimed another gold medal, while Sky Star Club won silver and Comprehensive Club secured bronze.

In the junior male competition, All Best Club won gold, Lagos State took silver and AIMAAN claimed bronze. Ondo State emerged champions in the junior female category, with N-Youth Club winning silver and Lagos State taking bronze.

N-Youth Club won gold in the junior mixed competition, while Lagos State and Ondo State claimed silver and bronze respectively.

NTF president Popoola expressed satisfaction with the standard of competition, describing the championship as a significant platform for identifying and developing young taekwondo talents.