Team Nigeria’s duo of Esther Godwin and Ogeh Ogochukwu has been handed a tough challenge as the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)-organised 2014 Youth Olympics Qualifiers kick off on Thursday in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei.
After their weigh-in on Wednesday, Godwin and Ogochukwu will take to the ring on Thursday March 20 at the Taipei Arena for their encounters against some experienced athletes.
Godwin, who will be competing in the female -63kg, may likely confront World Junior Champion, Korea’s Park Bo-eui in match 16 of the tournament.
The National Youth Games gold medalist is making her first international appearance and she will face a Herculean task against the favoured Korean who is expected to beat Russia’s Turutina Yulia in her preliminary encounter.
Also, Ogochukwu will also be jostling for honours in the female -49kg and she is expected to tackle the winner between Peru’s Huaman Georgina and Chile’s Rios Francisca.
The nine-man team is supported by the National Sports Commission (NSC) will be guided by the new national coach, Jin Beom Kim.
On Friday, the trio of Iniobong Ekong, Isah Adamu and Bashir Mohammed will take to the ring for their ties.
Ekong has been drawn to face the winner between Croatia’s Ivina Babic and Canada’s Jerom Andrea in the female -55kg, while Mohammed will confront Cote d’Ivoire’s Aaron Fran in the male -55kg.
Adamu, who will be competing in the male -63kg, will battle Peru’s Oblitas in the first round on Friday March 21.
100 athletes made of 50 male and 50 female are expected to secure their qualifications to the 2014 World Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China from the Taipei’s qualifiers.
However, athletes that fail to make it from the qualifiers in Taipei will have to compete at the continental level to ascertain his or her place at the global championship holding later in the year in China.
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