By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos – Ibrahim Yahuza, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) taekwondo referee, says more efforts should be made to teach athletes the current trends in the sport, especially the use of Protective Scoring System (PSS).
Yahuza told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the PSS were modern devices approved by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) applied at competitions.
He said it was fundamental for the state associations to make extra effort to acquire the equipment to enhance the development of the sport at the grassroots.
“We must follow the trends in taekwondo and seek to bring the skills of our national athletes to international standard because the sport has gone professional.
“The national body is doing a good job, at least, they have the Daedo Electronics, a modern device too but the life line lies at the grassroots where these athletes originate from.
“The new rules have more to do with the use of PSS, so, it is essential for the associations to make extra effort and provide the equipment for the maximum use of their athletes,’’ he said.
The IOC referee said that use of the devices had gone a long way to prepare athletes along the part of excellence, confidence and impressive performance at international games.
According to him, it is a way to build a solid foundation for the athletes whom, he described as stars who will represent the nation at the future Olympics.
“Those athletes who excel at continental and intercontinental Games are not better than our national athletes; they only have enabling the environment and train with modern equipment.
“And we can key into the system to show the world that we have talents in taekwondo that can compete favourably with their peers and record significant performance,’’ he added.
He named some of the equipment as PSS Electronic Headgear, Electronic-Foot Protector, Electronic-Shield, PSS Electronic Trunk Transmitter, Electronic Training Kick Bag, Electronic Heel Protector and Complete E-foot Protector.
NAN reports that the PSS, modern electronic devices approved by the WTF in 2010 were applied at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, World Championships and continental Games were to protect athletes’ sensitive areas and for elimination of controversy in competitions.