A pre‑event classification for para‑taekwondo athletes was held on Thursday at Package B of the National Stadium in Abuja, serving as a final preparation for the 2026 Korean Ambassador Cup that begins on Friday, 23 October.
The classification session, organized under the supervision of World Taekwondo officials, will determine the eligibility of Nigerian para‑athletes for the upcoming World Para Taekwondo Championship. International classifiers Rasheed Amusa, serving as chief classifier, and Ms Claudia Sanches were on site to conduct the assessments.
“Classifiers medically and technically assess the para taekwondo athletes and group them into various classes based on their type and severity of their impairment. This is to ensure fairness and safety because classification is the backbone of any para sport,” said Tayo Popoola, President of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria.
Popoola added that the athletes are “battle ready” for the event, which follows world‑best practices for para‑sport classification.
The Korean Ambassador Cup, now in its 14th edition, will run from 23 October to 25 October in Abuja. The competition will open in the sports hall of the National Stadium and conclude at the MO ARENA, with Korean Ambassador Yo‑an Jeong expressing his delight at the forthcoming tournament.
Popoola praised the continued support from the National Sports Commission, led by Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director‑General Bukola Olopade, and highlighted that the Kukkiwon Demonstration team will also perform live in Abuja, adding further excitement to the event.
Organisers expect roughly 350 participants across the various tournament cadres, emphasizing that the event is being staged in line with global standards for both able‑bodied and para‑taekwondo competition.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
