Ramadan Fast: Organiser reschedules tournament to July

Ramadan

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, May 8, 2019 (NAN) Emmanuel Oghenejobo, organiser of the annual Agoma Open Taekwondo Championships, on Thursday said that there would be an adjustment in its schedule for the tournament due to the ongoing Ramadan fast by Muslims.

Oghenejobo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that some regular athletes in the competition were taking part in the fasting and would not be adequately composed to fight.

He said that the championships earlier billed for May had been shifted to July after the fast and the athletes return to training to prepare adequately for it.

“The earlier plan was for the championships to hold this month in Kebbi, but along the line of our preparations, we realised that the Muslim fast clashed with our date.

“So, we are going to postpone this year’s edition, just like we did last year, basically for the sake of our Muslim athletes participating in the fast which started on Monday.

“The nature of the sport requires fitness, rigorous training to be in proper shape and psychologically fit to be able to fight and make good impact in the competition.

“They have always been part of this tournament since inception, therefore we must consider them so that they will be focused in the fast which is a Muslims spiritual exercise,” he said.

He said the championships would feature junior and senior in all weight categories, team events in Poomsae, Kyorugi, to be hosted by Kebbi State Taekwondo Association.

The organiser said that the participation of the athletes in the annual tournament had gone a long way to make the championships worthwhile, adding that they had remained committed.

Oghenejobo pleaded with other athletes to bear with the development, adding that it was also an exercise of spirit of sportsmanship and recognition of individuals religious practice. (NAN)
MIL/ASS/PDE
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(Edited by Saidu Adamu/Peter Ejiofor)