Chika Chukwumerije returned to the top cadre at global level when the 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medalist made it to the quarterfinal stage of the ongoing World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Championships in Chelyabinsk, Russia to finish in the top eight of the men’s +87kg category.
Chukwumerije, who managed to make it to the round of 16 at the last edition of the tournament defeated some top rated athletes including European championship silver medalist and 2013 bronze medalist at the world championship.
From the first round of the men’s +87kg, the grieving 2011 All Africa Games silver medalist defeated Canada’s Jordan Steward 3-0 to progress to the round of 32.
In the round of 32, he battled 2013 World Championship bronze medalist, Slovakia’s Ivan Trajkovic and he prevailed against the European at 7-6.
In the round of 16, he confronted another European Championships silver medalist, Croatia’s Vedran Golec and against the 31-year-old Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) graduate emerged victorious with a 5-3 win.
In the quarterfinal tie, he was set up against his 2012 London Olympics conqueror, Cuba’s Robelis Despaine and the encounter lived up to expectation but the Cuban prevailed at 9-4 to end Chukwumerije medal’s dream.
An excited President, Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), George Ashiru, described Chukwumerije’s performance as a confirmation of his status as one of the best in the world.
“Chika proves that he is still world class. In the international scene, he is one of the few Beijing generation champions still in the world’s top 20. That is testament to his work ethics and professionalism and experience. That should serve as inspiration to upcoming athletes,” the NTF boss said.
“The World Championships carries three times as many points as the All Africa Games. That is how important it is to improve your world rankings. Two years ago, Chika was in the last 16 and it was good enough to be ranked top 20 in the world. With this performance of being in top eight he will regain much momentum which if he so desires and is still passionate about training and competition will keep him in contention if he gets back on the Grand Prix Circuit,” he added.
However, Chukwumerije’s compatriot, Saturday Martala was unlucky as he fell 15-7 to Kazakhstan’s Smaiyl Duisebay in the men’s -87kg in the first round.
On Monday, May 18, another Nigerian, France-based Mohammed Murtala will face Tajikistan’s Farkhod Negmatov in the first round of the men’s -80kg.
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