Taekwondo Champs

NORTH RIDING – The South African ITF taekwondo athletes went over to the championship in England and came back with a gold and bronze medal.

The athletes before they went to England to compete in the championships. Photo Supplied.

Taekwondo coach, Norman Magua, recently accompanied the team that represented South Africa at the ITF Taekwondo World Championships in Brighton in England. Magua explained that only eight South African fighters could go to the championships due to financial restraints but added that the athletes who competed did really well coming back with one gold medal and two bronze.

The gold medal was brought back by Abigail Daniels, and the bronze medals were brought back by Christian Nyakanyanga and Pieter Stander.

“Overall I am very happy with the players as they did really well and we had some players come really close to a medal,” Magua said.

He pointed out North Riding resident, Richard Girvin who lost his match by one point in the quarter final match and that his opponent went on to win a gold medal in their division.

He also referred to Hugh Thompson who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal and that there was one injury suffered by Tafadzwa Matemera. Matemera injured his foot but managed to win the fight against a high ranking player but had to stop as his injury was hindering his movement.

Magua who has been involved with taekwondo for over 21 years explained that the kind of taekwondo they did was the traditional type that was started by the original founder, the late General Choi Hong Hi and that now his son was the president of the federation they were under.

“Taekwondo is a well-rounded martial art, it is traditional and teaches self-defence and teaches peace,” Magua pointed out.

He further explained that taekwondo was a lifetime sport that anyone can participate in. “I have a black belt level six and I still have a bit to go before reaching the final belt. My wife and two children are also involved in the sports,”he added.

Details: Norman Magua, taekwondosouthafrica@gmail.com

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