Duro Ikhazuagbe
3 November 2008
Lagos — Nigeria's first and only silver medallist in taekwondo at the Barcelona '92 Olympic, Peters Emmanuel Oghenejobo has defended the decision of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in refusing to rule in favour of Chika Chukwumerije.
Senator Uche Chukwumerije, a black belt holder in taekwondo had petition the WTF over the unjust ruling against his son at the Beijing Olympic last August. The Abia senator had prayed that the WTF should reverse the decision of the judges in the match No 141 of the Olympic between his son, Chika and Greece's Alexandro Nicholaidias in the +80 kg class.
But the WTF said after its Competition Supervisory Board reviewed the video replay concluded that the decision of the judges was correct.
Oghenejobo who along with Osita Egwim are the only international taekwondo referees in the country told THISDAYSports at the weekend that it was most unfortunate that Chukwumerije lost the fight to the Greek player.
"Chika is my ward. He is the best fighter in his class in the continent at the moment. He deserved the gold at the Olympic. It was just unfortunate that he lost to the Greek in the race to the gold. The Korean who won that gold is not better that Chika. That was why I felt bad that my boy did not get the chance to fight for the gold," observed Oghenejobo who won the silver medal when it was not yet a scoring event at the Olympic.
In supporting the WTF decision, the Nigerian referee revealed that the issue came up at the last world taekwondo referees seminar in Korea recently and most of those who spoke on the matter believed that Chika narrowly lost on technicalities.
"Those who spoke after a review of the fight agreed that Chika lost the fight on technical ground. You see, when I was still fighting, my coach taught me to fight and score clean. The reason was because when you go into a fight, there is the possibility of you fighting against your opponent and other circumstantial issues. That was why I expected Chika, given his exposure to have known what is at stake and come out smoking," stressed Oghenejobo who was until recently chairman of Delta State Taekwondo Association.
He however believes all is not lost for Chika who is just 24 years old now. "He has a very bright future in the sport. I believe that with the right backing from the government and proper planning, he stands a chance of getting the gold at the next Games in London."
The former Delta Taekwondo boss who officiated the sport at the just Police Games at the Sports-city in Lagos said that there was room for taekwondo to grow in the country.
"The standard I have seen here is okay. It still can be improved upon. My only worry is that what happens after this game? Don't also forget that the police men here are just return to competition after nearly ten years absence. What is the guarantee that they will not return to normal duties and forget sports till another time? If there is enough time to train, the police and other paramilitary force are capable of supplying Nigeria quality athletes in combat sports," he noted.
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