In his first major international outing, Nigeria’s Olakunle Awoyele crashed out 24 – 3 to the more experienced Huang Jiannan of China in the round of 16 of the male -74kg at the on-going Taekwondo event of the CISM World Games in Wuhuan, China, bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

The Chinese however lost 11 – 14 to Russia’s Kriveicheno Nikita in the quarter-finals.

A total of 262 athletes, including 178 males and 84 female, from 47 countries are participating in the championship.

Turkey’s Katoussi Firas picked up gold medal in this after defeating South Korea’s Park Sanguk 13 – 3, while the two bronze medals were won in repercharge by Russia’s Kriveicheno Nikita who narrowly defeated Morocco’s Davoudi Khalid 20 – 18, and by Iran’s Bakhshikalhori Amirmoh who floored Brazil’s Ribeiro Nichollas 14 – 0.

Two other Nigeria Armed Forces Taekwondo athletes, Enomfon James Okon, and Ahmed Shehu Bello will be in action in the female -53kg and male -87kg on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Enomfon has been drawn to meet with World Bronze Medallist and Rio 2016 Olympian, France’s Aziez Yasmina in the round of 16 while Ahmed Shehu Bello will battle against Columbia’s Suaza Gil David Antonia in the round of 16.

The Taekwondo event is holding between 23 – 26 October 2019 at the Wuhan Gymnasium and the Nigeria Armed Forces Taekwondo team is being coachedby Coach Okon Nyang Ekpo.

Countries registered for the Taekwondo event include Algeria, Germany, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Columbia, Congo, Republic of Korea, Dominica Republic, Egypt, Ecuador, Spain, USA, France, Gabon, Greece, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Khazakstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Lithuna, Morocco, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger Republic, Uzbekistan, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Nigeria and hosts, the People’s Republic of China.

The Military World Games is a multi-sport event for military sportspeople, organized by the International Military Sports Council.

Sports featuring at the 7th CISM games include Aeronautical Pentathlon, Archery, Basketball, Boxing, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Judo, Military Pentathlon, Modern Pentathlon, Naval Pentathlon, Orienteering, Parachuting, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming (including Diving, Life-saving),Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Track & Fields(including Marathon & partly open to para-athlete),Triathlon, Volleyball ( including beach volleyball).

By region, there are 32 countries from Asia, 47 countries from Africa, 42 countries from Europe, 19 countries from the Americas participating at the 7th CISM World Games.

So far, China is leading the medal table with 155 medals including 88 gold, 46 silver and 21 gold. Russia is following in second place with 124 gold, including 40 gold, 43 silver and 41 gold, while Brazil is currently in third place with 63 medals, including 18 gold, 17 silver and 28 bronze medals.

Nigeria, who entered a total of 12 athletes in the four combat sports of Taekwondo, Judo, Boxing and Wrestling, is yet to reflect on the medal table.

Technical Director of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation has expressed his delight at the effort of the Defense headquarters to expose the athletes, especially in the combat sports.

“It is thrilling to witness from the afar the exposure of athletes in the combat sports to the highest international arena. For Taekwondo, I can see that these athletes are inexperienced, but they are young, and it is this kind of exposure that will reap big dividends for our national teams in the future. Count the number of medals in the combat sports of Taekwondo, Judo, Boxing and Wrestling and you will appreciate the wisdom of this exposure for the future of sports in Nigeria”

The CISM World Games have been held since 1995. Previous editions of the Games, which takes place every four years, were held in Korea [2015], Brazil [2011], India [2007], Italy [2003] Croatia [1999] and Italy [1995].