Taekwondo Athletes to Compete in National Colors at Rio 2016

The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) last week announced that Olympic athletes competing at Rio 2016 will wear different colored pants of their national team for the very first time.

Each WTF Member National Association will be allowed to choose one color, including white, which all of their athletes at Rio 2016 will compete in by April 30. This will not only ensure a whole new look of Taekwondo competition at Rio 2016 – unique to the Games – but also allow the fans in the stadium and those watching from home to easily identify the athletes competing.

The WTF is working closely with Rio 2016 to develop its sport presentation package which will increase engagement with fans inside and outside of the stadium during the Games. As well as looking at bringing in taekwondo and para-taekwondo demonstrations between sessions, the WTF is looking at innovative ways of leveraging Brazil’s rich culture to keep fans engaged during breaks in play.

Ghana is still hoping for the qualification to the tournament through a wild card after its athletes failed to qualify for the event when they took part in the African Olympic qualifiers last month.

Taekwondo Athletes to Compete in National Colors at Rio 2016

"I"m doing My Best For Disabled Children But .......... " - Para - Taekwondo World Champion

Former Para – Taekwondo World Champion Sharon Acquaye is imparting his skills in school children across the country with special training sessions in selected schools but his problem has got to do with funding.

In 2015 he organized a national taekwondo competition for children from selected schools, bringing together about 70 children to compete for laurels.

In an interview with sportscrusader.com Acquaye said “my greatest challenge is funding and i want to appeal to the corporate world and philanthropists to come to his aid to be able to participate in competitions lined up for him as well as train those with disability and children.”

The bronze medalist also notified sportscrusader.com about the upcoming events which includes European Taekwondo Championship in Holland on September 8, Pan American Para Taekwondo Championships in October, with the host yet to be named, 2nd Oceania Para Taekwondo event in Fiji with the Asian one in Philippines in April and another in Morocco.

 

Acquaye concluded that i believe the training would instill discipline in the children and build them into responsible adults, he also appreciated Master Sesi Dzakpasu and all others in the taekwondo federation for their support so far.

"I"m doing My Best For Disabled Children But .......... " - Para - Taekwondo World Champion

Ghana Might Be Represented in Taekwando At The Olympics Despite Failing To Qualify - Taekwondo Boss

With 168 days for the world to witness an Olympic  torch,Ghana taekwondo athletes might still have a chance to participate in Olympic games despite failing to qualify for Rio, in the African qualifying rounds held in  Morocco.

 

Ghana sent four highly ranked athletes to Morocco in pursuit to qualify for the Olympic games,but failed in their quest in the early rounds of qualifier.

 

In an interview with the media at the  final of the Ghana Rugby club championship the President of Ghana Taekwondo Federation, Mr Frederick Lartey said ” we are now left with the option of the wild card,that is what we call the trapatie commissioner invitational placement, where four athlete will be selected by the International Olympic Committee to participate in the Olympics”.

 

Mr. Lartey therefore entreated Ghanaians to remember the taekwondo athletes in their  prayers so that we get lucky to be selected with the wild card option.

 

 

Ghana Might Be Represented in Taekwando At The Olympics Despite Failing To Qualify - Taekwondo Boss

"Ghana Was Represented By The Best In Morocco" - Taekwondo Federation President

The president of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF) Mr  Frederick Lartey Otu has expressed his disappointment over failure of the taekwondo athletes in not been able to make it to the Olympics games in Rio, but he still holds a solid assertion that they were the best available.

Ghana was represented at the qualifiers by Danielle Pelham, Eunice Omolara Adedapo, David Adjetey, and Terrance Tetteh Asare,who had various qualifications which made them eligible candidates.

 

For instance US-based David, a silver medalist at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo and previously had won an All Africa Games bronze; Danielle, also based in the US, equally had won bronze at the All Africa Games in Congo and won Bronze at the Olympic qualifiers in Morocco; Eunice was our best athlete (female category) at the Korea Ambassador’s Cup tournament organized by the Ghana Taekwondo Federation and the South Korean Embassy last December.

 

The President also added “They were our best athletes, without doubt because the selection of athletes for the Morocco Olympics qualifiers was handled by the national technical committee headed by the technical director, Mr. Joseph Brako”.

"Ghana Was Represented By The Best In Morocco" - Taekwondo Federation President

Ghanaian Taekwondo Athletes Olympic Dream Shattered

The Ghana taekwondo contingent that left for the qualifiers in Morocco for the upcoming Olympic games in Rio, have all failed to qualify and are back in the country already, whilst the competition is still ongoing.

The contingent made up of, David Koney Adjetey, Terrence Asare, Danielle Pelham and Eunice Adadepo all failed to make it to the Rio Olympic Games which is slated for August this year after crashing out of the African Olympic Qualification Taekwondo Tournament.

Undoubtedly the Ghanaian team that was sent where one of the brightest spot for Ghana in the qualifying rounds for the Olympics but their failure came as a surprise considering the ranking of various athletes especially for Adjetey who is ranked number 10 in the world.

In a press briefing on the team’s arrival back in Ghana, the president of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF), Frederick Lartey Otu,expressed his disappointment towards how the athletes where not given the equal attention they deserve in comparison with other sports.

He said “it is sad we had to lose out but I tell you it is all because of lack of training camps to put our athletes in proper shape”.

This comes especially after allegations made towards the federation by taekwondoga Charles Cromwell, of being bias in their selection process.These happenings do not help the growth of the sport in Ghana especially considering the support it wants from the government and corporate Ghana.

Ghanaian Taekwondo Athletes Olympic Dream Shattered

The Ghana Taekwondo Federation Is Bias - Taekwondoga Charles Cromwell Alleges.

Charles Alex Cromwell who is ranked fifth in Africa and 60th in the world in the sport of taekwondo has expressed his anger towards the Ghana Taekwondo Federation(GTF) as he was left out of the team that went to Morocco to participate in the Olympic qualifiers.

The 36 year old Ghanaian told Graphic Sports from his base in Italy that “I was shocked that with my current form and my ranking , I was overlooked for others who can’t compete with me in terms of my profile”.

He also added that his colleague David Koney Adjetey was selected,but he couldn’t understand why he wasn’t called up for the final round qualifiers.Cromwell also disclosed how he was told by the President of the Federation, that he does not have an Olympic ambition,which he finds very absurd.

He further threatened to hang his robs after his Olympic dream has been shattered by the federation. He further encapsulated about how bad the team performed in Morocco, as all the athletes failed to make it to the next stage of the competition which effectively rules them out of the Olympics games in Rio.

Furthermore the veteran taekwondoga has noted the National Sports Authority to scrutinize the selection process of the GTF.

The Ghana Taekwondo Federation Is Bias - Taekwondoga Charles Cromwell Alleges.