Expose taekwondists to international tournaments, Otuadinma insists By Olalekan Okusan Having competed in two major international competitions in the last two weeks and being the only Nigerian to pick medal in the championships, Korean Open silver medallist, Uzoamaka Otuadinma believes exposing the taekwondists to more international tournaments would improve the skills of the athletes. The athlete told NationSport before their departure from Seoul in South Korea that having featured in top class tournaments, they have realised that the thin line between Nigeria and the rest of the world in taekwondo is exposure. She said this gap can be bridged inasmuch as the athletes get enough international exposure. “When we were leaving nobody believed in us but we were sure that we can make a difference but at the World Championships we could not make it to the podium but majority of us won our first fight and this alone has given us hope that we were not that bad and rusty following our inability to compete at international level in more than a year. Most of our opponents have featured in several competitions this year and in all our fights we were not humiliated,” she said. “What gave most of our opponents an edge over is exposure. But with what we had gained from competing in these championships, I think and believe that with more international exposure, we can gain more confidence and skills. Apart from the skills and confidence, we can amass points to be sure of qualifying for the Olympic Games come 2020 in Tokyo, Japan,” Otuadinma added. To claim the only medal for Nigeria, Otuadinma defeated her counterparts from South Korea, United States, and Columbia and had to settle for a silver medal after losing to her Chinse counterpart in the final of the women’s The post Expose taekwondists to international tournaments, Otuadinma insists appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

By Olalekan Okusan

Having competed in two major international competitions in the last two weeks and being the only Nigerian to pick medal in the championships, Korean Open silver medallist, Uzoamaka Otuadinma believes exposing the taekwondists to more international tournaments would improve the skills of the athletes.

The athlete told NationSport before their departure from Seoul in South Korea that having featured in top class tournaments, they have realised that the thin line between Nigeria and the rest of the world in taekwondo is exposure. She said this gap can be bridged inasmuch as the athletes get enough international exposure.

“When we were leaving nobody believed in us but we were sure that we can make a difference but at the World Championships we could not make it to the podium but majority of us won our first fight and this alone has given us hope that we were not that bad and rusty following our inability to compete at international level in more than a year. Most of our opponents have featured in several competitions this year and in all our fights we were not humiliated,” she said.

“What gave most of our opponents an edge over is exposure. But with what we had gained from competing in these championships, I think and believe that with more international exposure, we can gain more confidence and skills. Apart from the skills and confidence, we can amass points to be sure of qualifying for the Olympic Games come 2020 in Tokyo, Japan,” Otuadinma added.

To claim the only medal for Nigeria, Otuadinma defeated her counterparts from South Korea, United States, and Columbia and had to settle for a silver medal after losing to her Chinse counterpart in the final of the women’s

The post Expose taekwondists to international tournaments, Otuadinma insists appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.