By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Aug. 13, 2023 (NAN) Octagon TKD came out tops at the just concluded 6th CCSF Invitational Open, which held on 12th August 2023 at the Indoor Basketball Hall of the M.K.O Abiola National Stadium Abuja.
The host club won a total of 26 medals including 8 gold, 7 silver and 11 bronze medals.
FCT-based Eagle TKD came second with five gold, six silver and 10 bronze medals.
While FCT came away with two gold medals to settle for the third position and Alamo TKD and Martial Arts finished fourth with one silver medal.
Niger’s Prestis TKD was the only invited club that did not register on the medal table.
FCT’s Uneh Unique clinched the female athlete of the tournament award, while the male athlete of the tournament award went to Octagon TKD’s Jideofor Chukwumerije.
Chukwumerije’s explosive final with Achu Franco of Alamo TKD and Martial Arts was adjudged as the fight of the tournament.
A total of 82 competitors competed in 15 categories across kiddies, cadets and juniors levels.
In the kiddies male category (for 4 yrs), Fehintoluwa Fasominu of Octagon TKD took gold, while Zayd Idris also of Octagon TKD settled for silver.
In the kiddies male (for 5 to 6 yrs), Chukwuka Anafulu of Octagon TKD claimed the gold, while Timi Tilley-Gyado also of Octagon TKD, took silver.
Chukwuemeka Anafulu and Mohammed Gwamna both of Octagon TKD settled for the bronze medal.
In the kiddies male (for 7 to 8 yrs), Jideofor Chukwumerije of Octagon TKD won gold, while Franco Achu of Alamo TKD and Martial Arts took the silver.
The duo of Joseph Ameh and Eze Anekwe of Eagle TKD settled for bronze.
In the kiddies female (5 to 6 yrs) category, Joanna Akpu of Octagon TKD won gold, while the silver went to Chimamanda Amaechi of Eagle TKD.
Michelle Ufot of Eagle TKD and Wuraola Dauda of Octagon TKD settled for bronze.
In the kiddies female category (for 9 to 10 yrs), Serena Chukwumerije of Octagon TKD emerged winner, while Eniola Dauda also of Octagon TKD took home the silver medal.
Soteria Ihetuge and Paula Agbayi both of Eagle TKD settled for bronze.
The Cadet male category for 11 to 14 yrs (-37 kg) saw Brandon Agbayi and Kristian Akingboro both of Eagle TKD win the gold and silver medal respectively.
While Kelechukwu Ozuah and Brian Samuel-Abbas both of Eagle TKD settled for bronze.
Chijindum Chukwumerije of Octagon TKD emerged winner of the Cadet male category for 11 to 14 yrs (+ 61 kg).
Felix Akpu of Octagon TKD and Samuel Essien of Eagle TKD settled for silver and bronze respectively.
In the Cadet female category for 11 to 14 yrs (-47 kg), Maliaka Chukwumerije of Octagon TKD took the gold medal.
While Esther Ohaka and Esther Oduah both of Eagle TKD settled for the silver and bronze medal respectively.
In the juniors female for 15 to 17 years (-63 kg), Ituanya Obiefuna of FCT TKD won gold, while Ezimasife Okonji of Octagon TKD settled for silver.
CCSF founder and CEO, Chika Chukwumerije told newsmen that the foundation was totally committed to grassroots development of sport in the country, adding that the importance of fusing entertainment with sports cannot be overemphasised.
“The CCSF is a sports entertainment event that targets three things.
“We want to first and foremost support grassroots sports development as well as raise awareness about the projects my foundation is involved in.
“The event also gives Nigerians an alternative to music, comedy and dance,” he said.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Medalist added that his dream was to continue to fish out talents from the grassroots and raise more future Olympic champions in the country.
He noted that he was fully involved in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 where he personally supported and took one of the country’s young athlete, Elizabeth Anyanacho to compete.
“Getting the 21 year-old to compete at the games was a really tough journey for me and in 2021 I was also very involved in alot of grassroots development projects.
“I am now fully focused on my foundation because I have a deep love for youth empowerment and sports development.
“We are going to focus on organising more sports entertainment events such as this and the next will be a very elaborate one in December.
“We want to also raise awareness and kick start an orphanage project to cater to underprivileged children,”
he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
