… As Anyanacho Bags Fourth Gold Medal
The second edition of the CCSF Prix Series, which was held in the Indoor Boxing Gym at the Old Parade Ground, FCT Abuja, came to a successful close over the weekend.
151 athletes made up of 52 Seniors, 28 Juniors, 7 Cadets and 64 Kiddies from 12 states and Cote D’Ivoire clashed for honours over the two-day tournament, that used the latest World Taekwondo Federation rules and updated electronic competition gear.
Host team CCSF retained their position as the overall best team with a total of 10 medals – five gold, two silver and three bronze. Q-Madi once again emerged as the second runner up with a total of three medals – two gold and one bronze while the host state FCT emerged in third position with seven medals – one gold, four silver and 2 bronze, a massive improvement from the sixth position they took in the inaugural edition.
Bookmaker’s favourite, Elizabeth Anyanacho of Team CCSF did not disappoint as she knocked out Rahinat Nurudeen of FUT Minna with a back kick in the semi-finals before convincingly winning her finals against FCT’s Celestina Nkemjika. This is her fourth gold medal of the year, having won the precious edition as well as gold medals at the Korean Cup in Ghana and Dakar International Opens in Senegal earlier this year.
Kebbi’s Charles Okon and Lagos-based Q-Madi’s Esther Ndima successfully defended their gold medal in the male -58kg and female +67kg categories respectively, while CCSF’s Peter Itiku who won a gold in the male +80kg in the inaugural edition lost weight to repeat his golden feat in the Male -80kg category. Fellow team mate, Kenneth Ogbu, who won a Silver in the last edition stepped up to defeat Niger’s Raji Abdulhakeem in the finals to clinch his first ever gold medal.
In the seniors female -57kg, FCT’s Chidinma David caused a huge upset by defeating current NUGA Champion, Kano’s Charity Agu, in the finals. Ebonyi’s upcoming female starlet, Onang Okwo, beat Comfort Osarollo of FUT Minna to take home the gold in the seniors female -49kg.
In the juniors’ category, Government Secondary School Garki Abuja topped the medal table with nine medals – two gold, three silver and four bronze followed by Team CCSF with three medals – two Gold and one bronze and then Lagos-based Q-Madi with 1 gold medal.
Two knock-outs were recorded in this category as Q-Madi’s Abdul-Malik Balogun knocked out Team CCSF’s Daniel Inaju en route to winning the gold medal against Kebbi’s Jamilu Idris while Prince Daniel of Team CCSF knocked out Abdulhafiz Adeyemi of Government Secondary School Garki en route to winning the gold medal.
In the female juniors -55kg, Christiana Wede of G.S.S Garki beat her team mates, Uchenna Onyemelonu in the finals after earlier emerging victorious against Hauwa Giwa of Rose John of G.S.S Maitama. In the female juniors +63kg, Team CCSF’s Bukola Ogunnusi outclassed G.S.S Maitama’s Naomi Solomon 24 – 0 in finals to clinch a maiden gold medal.
In the cadets’ category, Benue state taekwondo academy topped the medal table with three medals – two gold and one bronze. FCT based Octagon TKD club came in second with 1 gold and Edo-based Ziggy Taekwondo Club came in third position with one silver medal.
Serial winner, Agada Elijah Agada, of Benue State University Taekwondo Academy outclassed Oso-Efe Akhideno of Edo-based J_Ziggy Taekwondo Club to win the gold medal after beating Zimako Nnaji of FCT based Eagle Taekwondo Club in the semi-finals.
In the kiddies’ category, Abuja-based Brickhall Taekwondo Club retained their overall position with a total of eighteen medals – four gold, four silver and ten bronze, followed by Korea Cultural Centre with six medals – 3 gold, two silver and one bronze. Eagle Taekwondo came in third place with six medals – 2 gold and four silver.
Gold medallists in the kiddies’ event were Sunday Mfon of Akwa Ibom [male 7 – 8 years], Oseose Akhideno of Edo’s J_Ziggy Taekwondo Club [female 7 – 8 years], Octagon’s Serena Chukwumerije, and Owoicholegoni Agada of Benue State University Taekwondo Academy.
Other gold medallist include Nyikwagh Vase and Zara Mbamah of FCT’s Eagle Taekwondo Club who won in the male 9 – 10 years and female 5 – 6 years. Brickhall Taekwondo picked up the last two gold medals through Chukwudubem Uchechukwuka in the 4-year category and Chidera Anichukwu in the female 9 – 10 category.
National athletes are not eligible to participate in the event. The event is done every three months and the next edition will be 8 – 9 September 2017.
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