Chukwumerije Bows Out, Intensifies Training For Olympics Qualifiers

BEIJING 2008 Olympics bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumerije was yesterday shown the exit in the second round of the mens +87kg weight category of this years World Taekwondo Championships holding in Gyeongju, Korea.Chukwumerije, who is at present shaping up for the London 2012 Olympics Qualifiers taking place in Azerbaijan next month had defeated former World Champion, Netherlands Ferry Greenivik 9-2 in the first round, but due to tactical error, he narrowly lose to Germanys Kaya Ulvi 3-2 in the second round fight.The 27-year-old 2007 All Africa Games gold medalist told The Guardian yesterday that he made some mistakes, which caused him the fight against the German champion.I made a tactical misjudgement in last 20 seconds of the fight, and it cost me. I tried to get back the point but it was too late. My only disappointment is that I did not get to have as much practice as I wanted. The tournament was just to practice, and I was going to meet six tough fighters from six different countries whose taekwondo is world-class and well-known.   Unfortunately, I need to win each match to be able to earn more practice time and I did not. I regret not being able to do so. Congratulations to Ulvi, he came out tactically on top this time. Hopefully, next time, I will be the one on top. My game plan still goes on as nothing has changed. As I hope to resume my training on Monday, he said.He added that he acquired some skills taking part in the Korea tourney, while he hopes to correct some of the lapses he discovered before the Olympics Qualifiers taking place on June 30 to July 3, in Baku, Azerbaijan.Meanwhile, Iran grabbed the mens overall title at the just-ended WTF World Taekwondo Championships in Gyeongju, Korea yesterday.It marked the first time that Korea failed to retain the mens overall title in the history of the biennial World Taekwondo Championships.Korea managed to clinch the womens overall title at the just-ended World Championships, which took place at the Gyeongju Indoor Stadium. China won the womens overall title at the 2009 World Taekwondo Championships, the first ever in World Championships history. 
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