Taekwondo: Harun, Osagie win Poomsae event at President Cup

Taekwondo: Harun, Osagie win Poomsae event at President Cup 

By Ijeoma Okigbo 

Usman Harun and Ruth Osagie has won the Poomsae event in the male and female categories of the ongoing National President Cup Open Championship.

The three-day event organized by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja saw 34 athletes compete in the event, out of the 192 entries for the competition.

A total of 20 athletes took part in the male event while 14 competed in the women’s category. 

The event which saw participants move from preliminary stages to quarter finals, semi finals and then finals, earned Harun, from Oyo state, the gold medal with 19 points.

His closest rival was Salaudeen Abdulhafeez from Lagos with 18 points win the silver medal while the bronze medal was given to the duo of Eniola Aramide of Ondo and Stanley Osagie of Lagos, both with 16 points.

The women’s category, saw Osagie of Bayelsa win gold with 18 points while Kudirat Harun of Bayelsa as well claimed the silver medal with 17 points.

Harun’s sibling, Habibat, also representing Bayelsa won bronze medal alongside Beauty Ditu of Lagos, both with 16 points.

Now, three Harun siblings won medals in the event with the older sibling, Usman, saying his motivation was his sisters.

“I am proud with what we have achieved today, although I believe that we can do better.

“My biggest motivation is my sisters because I am their coach and I want them to see me as a role model, so I try to put my best in whatever am doing,” Harun said.

Speaking on the competition, the black belt holder, said it was challenging competing with other athletes.

“I think that the standard of the game is high. Competing against other tough athletes can be challenging but I thank God I won.

“I had also undergone a few training and courses recently before I came for the competition, maybe that help to put me ahead of my opponents,” he said. 

On her part, Osagie, winner of the women’s event, was excited with her performance and hopeful of replicating same feat in future competitions.

The tournament ends on Sunday.