The success secrets of Nigeria’s latest taekwondo sensation, Elizabeth Ihenacho have finally been revealed.
Ihenacho caused another stir by emerging as Nigeria’s only gold medalist from taekwondo at the just concluded African Games, a few months after becoming the country’s sole qualifier for this year’s Olympics in France.
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With the female rave of the moment still basking in the euphoria of her heroics in Accra and setting her sights on greater things at Paris 2024, one of her mentors has given a rundown of Ihenacho’s success path.
Throwing more light on her strides is no less a person than the president of Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Abdullahi Saidu-Baba, who gave credit to some of the nation’s sports officials and coaches for leading her on the way to glory.
Saidu-Baba started by stressing that it was not a single person’s effort but collective input from the sports ministry, taekwondo federation, and Beijing 1998 Olympic Games bronze medalist, Chika Chukwumerije.
While revealing that he signed a letter of approval that helped Ihenacho commence her developmental strides under the scholarship of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he thanked Chukwumerije for being a great mentor of the latest outstanding lass on the block.
The NTF top shot disclosed further: “Elizabeth is on IOC scholarship, but she did not just take herself out there. It was Nigeria that took her there, and I signed those documents that cleared her.
“We should also not forget to give credit to Chika Chukwumerije … being her coach. He is the one who discovered her, trained her, and took her to the first Olympics. Then she was still growing; she was still a baby. Now she is mature.
“Kudos to go to the sports ministry and Nigeria Olympic Committee for deeming it wise to put her on scholarship. That scholarship has now allowed her to be out there training with the best and competing in Europe.”
Saidu-Baba went on to reveal how Ihenacho has improved since getting her breakthrough and is now a beacon of glory being used to motivate younger athletes and help in directing similar policies by sports officials.
He added: “She has said herself that the difference between her and her colleagues is just that she has the opportunity to attend more competitions and train with other elite athletes within the top level. That has improved her.
“So, if we can give our athletes that opportunity, put them on scholarship, if not IOC at least NOC, we will see improvement in them.
They don’t have to be in Europe or America. Some can be here locally but with regular opportunities of attending international tournaments. Believe me, the story would be different completely.”
