National Sports Festival gold medalist, Usman Haruna has become the first Nigerian to win a medal in taekwondo poomsea event of the African Games.
He pulled off the feat on Friday when he got a bronze medal in the first-ever poomsea contest of the Games, the 13th edition that took place in Accra, Ghana.
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Although the Nigerian number one in his category admitted that he fell short of his pre-competition target and aim for gold, Usman remained optimistic of future glory, as he basked in the euphoria of his historic outing.
He also declared in the aftermath of his narrow loss to an Algerian opponent that he is returning home with lots of lessons learnt from the Games in Ghana, which added another feather to his expanding international exposure.
Usman Haruna, who also won gold in the same poomsea category at the Korean Ambassadors Championship and President’s Cup in Nigeria, also beamed with delight that he could be a role model to younger athletes from his country.
The soft-spoken medalist stated further: “I’m excited to be here, and I’m happy with the privilege of being the one representing Nigeria the first time that poomsea is included in taekwondo at the African Games.
“I won bronze, which is low to my expectation and aim of getting the gold medal. However, I am happy that I did not lose woefully, as the Algerian that defeated me was a tight one, and I’m returning home with a lot of lessons learnt.
“This is not the first time that I’m representing Nigeria in an international event. In 2022, I represented Nigeria at the African Taekwondo Championship in Rwanda and placed sixth.
In the same year, I also participated in an open competition in Niger and got silver. I have also participated in many online competitions and won medals for Nigeria.
“I am currently Nigeria’s number one in my poomsea category; after winning gold at the National Sports Festival, Korean Ambassadors Championship and President’s Cup.
“Apart from the opportunity of representing Nigeria, I am also happy with the chance to motivate young ones. I am happy to create a platform through which they will develop an interest in taekwondo. I want to inspire young ones and win gold.
“Nevertheless, I’m not stopping here. Although I didn’t win the gold medal here, I won a lot of knowledge, and I know someday that it will come for me.”
Usman enthused that poomsea will now receive more attention in Nigeria and across Africa while promising that he will step up his efforts to create a bigger impression at the event.
