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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
EMERALD Hill School For The Deaf will come alive this morning when the annual International Taekwondo Academy Open Championships make a grand return in over three years.
The event, which was established over 15 years ago, is coming back to the national calendar after a three-year Covid-19-induced absence with over 90 athletes expected to take part.
Evan Brown, the International Taekwondo Academy (ITA) chairman said, all is in place to see the return of the prestigious tournament which will be graced by international athletes from Ethiopia and Mozambique.
“We are happy as an academy to host a national event that has attracted some foreign nationals and everything is in place for it to be a success. We last had the event in 2019 and the athletes were practicing at home until recently when the sports were re-opened.
“Registration has been going on well and we have more than 90 athletes confirming their availability by Thursday evening and we are still expecting more.
“The tournament helps athletes to gain some points and be rated among the country’s best and gives them opportunities to represent the country at international level. There are several categories from different age-groups and weight categories starting from six years,” said Brown.
Several top athletes are expected to take part in today’s event and they include siblings Tanisha and Tanaya Masundire, Caleb Nziradzemhuka, Noah Ndlovu, Rebecca Makoni, Mukudzei Gapu and Nothando Awudi, among several others.
Brown said he is confident that there will be a very high level of competition between the athletes despite the long lay-off.
“I think we are going to witness top level taekwondo even though the athletes are rusty. Most of the guys were training behind doors during the Covid-19 period and they had some tournaments before.
“There is much support from the parents and athletes but the corporate world is not doing enough to support the sport so we are organising everything on our own. Winners will walk away with medals and floating trophies,” said Brown.
Online Reporter