Beijing Olympics bronze medalist in Taekwondo, Chika Chukwumerije, will have to undergo surgery on his fractured nose sometimes next week, Johnathan Nnaji, President of the Taekwondo Federation of Nigeria(TFN,) has revealed.
Chukwumerije got his upper nose bone fractured during the recent Taekwondo Olympics qualifiers held in Cairo, Egypt. He literally shed blood to book a slot to compete at the London Olympics coming up later in the year.
“Chika has been responding well to treatment on his fractured upper nose bone and will be having surgery here in Cairo next week,” Nnaji said.
The TFN boss added “He has done not just himself proud but the whole country, he has shown that he is a true patriot and even in pains he did enough to secure a ticket to compete for Nigeria at the London Olympics. We at the Federation have no choice than to see that he is back to full fitness as soon as possible”
Road to London
Chukwumerije overcame his conqueror at the 2011 All Africa Games in Mozambique; Cote d’Ivoire’s Zokou Saint Nom Firmin, 14-9 to clinch a place at London 2012.
According to earlier reports, the uncoordinated style of the Ivoirien caused Chukwumerije the nose injury in the second round of the highly physical semi final bout
Despite the underhand tactics employed by his opponent, Chukwumerije held on to his lead with the eventual victory serving as a revenge of the defeat he suffered in the hands of the Ivoirien during the semifinal stage of the All Africa Games last September.
Gabon’s Anthony Obame joins Chukwumerije’s as Africa’s representatives in the men’s +80kg in London.
Also quarter finalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Nigeria’s Issa Muhammad Adam also secured a slot to compete in -68kg at the Olympics.
Early preparation
Meanwhile, the TFN president has also said that the preparation for the Olympic Games will soon get underway as the Federation has set a target of improving on the solitary bronze medal won by Chika Chukwumerije at the 2008 Beijing Games for itself.
Already Kun Si-Haweon, a top South Korean taekwondo coach, has joined Nigeria’s coaching crew so as to brighten the country’s prospect for medals at the London games.
