East Africa Taekwondo Championship, 3rd Edition Attracts over 200 Competitors
The third edition of East Africa Taekwondo Championship commenced on Thursday 29, December 2022 at Pearl School – Kabalagala.
Over 200 participants from Kenya, Rwanda, Congo, Tanzania and the hosts Uganda are taking part in the two days Championship that is aiming at spreading the game in East African countries as well as preparing the athletes for the forthcoming World Championship due in Finland, September next year.
The event is the third edition but the second to be hosted in Uganda, the first came in 2019 before COVID-19 pandemic.
This championship is organized by the International Taekwondo Federation and Master Niklas Enander an international Instructor and Umpire from Sweden and doubles as a board member of ITF Uganda revealed as to why the host such tournaments in East Africa.
“In Uganda we host three to four tournaments in a year, kids from Katanga, Lira and other parts meet and compete against each other but here, they get a chance to meet athletes from other Kenya or Tanzania so this brings in more competition and this is a great chance to lift of the people and this helps them to achieve their ambitions.” Says Master Niklas Enander.
This championship is also intended to prepare players for upcoming competitions including Clubs Championships next year in April, Heroes Cup in July, World Championships in Finland in September among others according to Master Niklas Enander an international Instructor.
Meanwhile the newly elected International Taekwondo Federation president David Owor has promised increase in the number of participants from Uganda for upcoming competitions next year.
The General Secretary International Taekwondo Federation Robert Ojambo is impressed by increase in number of participants compared to the previous two editions that were held in Tanzania and Uganda in 2018 and 2019.
“I am impressed with the number of participants, 200 and above, it’s greater than that we had in 2019…… These tournaments help to prepare our Athletes for big stages, because many have them never gotten chance to play at the Africa level, so they prepare them such that when they reach there, they won’t be much intimidated.”
The event ends tomorrow, Friday and winners will be awarded with trophies, medals and certificates.