Taekwondo coach hopeful, calls for more support

LESS than 100 days to the commencement of the 2012 London Olympic Games, Team Nigeria's taekwondo coach, Sihwan Keum, has expressed confidence that the team has the wherewithal to win medals, but called for more support from Nigerians.The Korea-born tactician told The Guardian yesterday that he was impressed with the quality of the two athletes, Chika Chukwumerije and Issa Muhammad Adam, adding that they have shown prospect of doing well in London.'Chika and Issa are great athletes every coach would love to work with and this alone has given me hope that they can do well in London,' he said. 'It is the dream of every athlete to be at the Olympics, being the biggest sporting event in the world.'Their opponents are at present training hard and they are also preparing just like their opponents. This alone is good for the team because in Korea they train thrice daily and are in good environment with support from the Korean national team.'According to Keum, though taekwondo originated from Korea, most countries are now stakeholders in the game, including Nigeria. He added: 'Chika and Issa are experienced athletes, having featured in past Olympics, and I think they are in better shape to do well in London. With good preparation, which they are doing at present, I am sure they will make the medals' haul in London.'The taekwondo event of the London Olympics will hold from August 8 to 11 at Excel Centre with 128 athletes competing for honours in four weight categories. Each country is limited to two men and two women across all events, and to only one athlete in any particular event.Taekwondo made its debut as a demonstration sport at the Seoul 1988 Olympics, but was not officially added to the Olympic programme until the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
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