By Wakawaka sports
Preparations have reached an advanced stage for the Southeast Open Taekwondo Championship, billed to hold from November 7 to 9, 2025, at the Dan Anyiam Indoor Sports Hall, Owerri, Imo State.
The event, being organised by the Imo State Taekwondo Association (ISTA), is expected to attract leading taekwondo athletes from across the Southeast and other parts of the country who will compete in both Kyorugi (combat) and Poomsae (forms) events.
According to the organisers, the championship is designed to promote grassroots participation, strengthen regional unity, and identify new talents capable of representing Nigeria at future international competitions.
Speaking on the significance of the tournament, Coach Kuba Ndukuba, Technical Director of the Imo State Sports Commission, described the initiative as a milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to develop martial arts.
“This championship is more than a contest; it is an avenue to expose young athletes to high-level competition and inspire them to pursue excellence,” Ndukuba said. “We are building a structure that will sustain taekwondo growth in Imo State and beyond.”
Also lending his voice, Olympic bronze medalist and former Technical Director of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), Chika Chukwumerije, commended the initiative, describing it as a step in the right direction for the sport’s revival at the regional level.
“Regional events like this remain vital to the discovery and grooming of the next generation of champions,” Chukwumerije noted. “ISTA deserves commendation for its commitment to developing taekwondo from the grassroots.”
With the countdown underway, expectations are high that the Southeast Open Taekwondo Championship will deliver three days of intense action and excitement, reaffirming Owerri’s growing reputation as a leading centre for sports excellence in Nigeria.
