Lagos – day said he was determined to ensure the country’s taekwondoists qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.
Ashiru told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that two male and two female taekwondoists would compete for slots at the qualifiers billed for February in Morocco.
He said he would not allow the ongoing crisis rocking the Federation to have an adverse effect on his objective, adding that that he would remain focused.
“I have a passion to put a smile on the faces of taekwondo enthusiasts in the nation and those other ones who believe in us to qualify for the Olympics and that is my target.
“I refuse to get agitated by the issue in the board now. In fact, I see it as a distraction because the qualifiers are around the corner.
“And it will not be wise to do anything that will also divert the attention of the taekwondoists, or psychologically demoralise them as they prepare for the qualifiers.
“The taekwondoists are training and being managed by Grand Master Kim Jin, head coach and other seasoned technical officials with the use of latest electronic devices,’’ the NTF president, who is also Vice-President of the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union, said.
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Ashiru said the taekwondoists, presently undergoing training in Abuja, are experienced ones, especially as some of them were medalists’ at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 African Games.
He also said the criteria for selection of taekwondoists for the qualifiers would be competence and adapting to standard rules during the camp exercise.
“They are national taekwondoists with international exposure, which gave them an edge, but they must show this during the internal trial at the closed camp to qualify for the final team.
“We must surpass our past performances at this Olympic Games and our coaching crew knows the qualities to look out for when the time comes to select the team,’’ the NTF president said.
He then urged the taekwondoists and the coaching crew to remain steadfast in their training, adding that the body would provide them with the necessary support.(NAN)