Ki Hong Kim, President and Founder of World Taekwondo Masters Union, on Saturday in Abuja said he was in Nigeria to improve the kukkiwon aspect of taekwondo.
Kim arrived in Nigeria days earlier for the ongoing National President’s Cup Open Taekwondo Championship organised by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF).
He will train athletes and coaches on the sidelines of the event.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kukkiwon is a government-sponsored national academy for taekwondo with its certification the only taekwondo certificates accepted internationally.
Athletes who seek to participate in the Olympics, national and international events must possess kukkiwon certification.
Kim, who is a grand master of the sport and a kukkiwon 9th Dan, said the Union was working with the NTF to ensure certifications for its athletes.
“The Union is mainly focused on studies, which is the kukkiwon-certified programme, and we are here in Nigeria to support the NTF in what they are doing.
“Nigeria has lots of potential in the sport and we hope that we can help improve that number as well as skills through kukkiwon certification.
“The previous administration was focused on kirougi which is the fighting aspect of the game but we have seen that this present administration are focusing also on the kukkiwon aspect of the game.
“‘With both kirougi and kukkiwon programmes, we can improve the game effectively at the grassroots,” Kim said.
The taekwondo veteran also called for support from the government and corporate sponsors to improve the game in the country.
Meanwhile, a total of 192 athletes are participating in the three-day President’s Cup competition at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
The event is expected to end on Sunday.(NAN)
