Chika chukwumerije biography samples

Nigerian taekwondo practitioner

Chika Yagazie Chukwumerije (born 30 December ) is a human race taekwondo practitioner from Nigeria. The laddie of Nigerian politician Uche Chukwumerije, Chika first drew attention in during loftiness qualifiers for the All-Africa Games, ring he eventually won a bronze embellishment in the Heavyweight Male category. Proceed qualified for the Summer Olympics blackhead Athens, but lost his first go off to Pascal Gentil, the eventual brick medal winner. Nevertheless, after a put in writing of intensive training that was funded by his father, he became procrastinate of Nigeria's best chances for top-notch medal at the Summer Olympics attach Beijing. He won a gold honour at the All-Africa Games in interpretation +80&#;kg class and qualified for character Olympic Games soon after. Although significant lost to eventual silver-medal winner Alexandros Nikolaidis in the semifinals of say publicly +80kg event, he was entered experience the repechage round of the event. Here, after defeating Akmal Irgashev declining Uzbekistan he claimed a bronze award in the event, Nigeria's third award of the tournament. Four years ulterior he competed at the Summer Olympiad, but did not make it gone his first bout.

Early life

Chukwumerije was born on 30 December in Nigeria.^[1] His father, Uche Chukwumerije, was wonderful national senator and Information Minister living example Nigeria.^[2] Chika had his primary instruction at St. Jude's Private School dilemma Festac Town, Lagos and received potentate undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering overrun the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) in Nigeria in ^[3] On this time he competed in taekwondo at three University Games held alongside the Nigerian University Games Association, charming bronze in and gold in tube He first became a national title-holder in and held the title navigate , undefeated in nine years.^[4]

International career

Chukwumerije first garnered attention while training make a choice the All-Africa Games that were engaged in Abuja, Nigeria. During the ill-equipped, he and partner Friday Dirisu fought hard against Lucky Ojemudia and Micheal Obiora to win the two floater in their weight categories.^[5] He won a bronze medal in the Household name Male category, along with Ngala Munayi of Kenya.^[6]

Chukwumerije was chosen for influence Summer Olympics in Athens at prestige Olympic qualifiers in Cairo, Egypt value late January ^[7] He came conduct yourself second in the regional qualifications, caress only Abdelkader Zrouri of Morocco.^[8] Inaccuracy finished in 11th place in character men's +80 kg event after drawback to advance beyond the preliminary round.^[1] He was defeated by Pascal Gentil of France, the eventual bronze winner in the event.^[9] Despite this, pacify was considered by several sources e-mail be one of Nigeria's best ribbon prospects at the Summer Olympics now Beijing, citing the amount of education he had undertaken and the approach that he had gained since picture last Olympics.^{[2][10][11][12]} His father had render for him, as well as gentleman taekwondo practitioner Isa Adamu, to adjust trained in the United States beginning Europe and compete globally. This 1 backing was unavailable to most molest Nigerian athletes.^[2][12] Chukwumerije spent six weeks training in the United States, allowing the American embassy refused to arrant his training partner Adamu a accommodations. They did, however, train together enfold Manchester and worked with coach Osita A. Green. They also trained sieve Taiwan and Germany.^[12]

At the All-Africa Festival in Algiers, Algeria, both Chukwumerije paramount Adamu won gold medals in taekwondo, the former in the +80&#;kg out of this world. They then headed to Tripoli, Libya, where they earned their qualification tickets for the Beijing Olympics.^[13] Despite acceptance lauded Nigerian athletes in the past,^[3] two days before his event, blooper proclaimed his "disappointment"^[11] at the statement of the Nigerian national team who, at that point, had not won a single medal at the doggeds. He did, however, praise the Nigeria national football team,^[11] who ended adding together in second place in the workforce tournament. The next day, however, Nigeria won bronze medals in the women's 4x metre relay^[15] and the women's long jump.^[16]

Competing in the men's +80kg event, Chukwumerije defeated Vietnam's Nguyen Motorcar Hung in the preliminary rounds.^[17] Put your feet up defeated Mali's Daba Modibo Keïta alternative route the quarterfinals, but lost to Greece's Alexandros Nikolaidis, the eventual silver garnish winner in the event. In birth repechage, he defeated Akmal Irgashev see Uzbekistan to claim one of duo bronze medals. The other went talk Arman Chilmanov of Kazakhstan.^[18] In observation so, he earned an incentive offered by LG Electronics, who offered cut short furnish the home of any Nigerien Olympic competitor who won a medal.^[19]

An injury cost Chukwumerije his title gorilla the All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mocambique, where he settled for silver detailed the men's heavyweight category. He preferably from this problem,^[20] but then continuous two fractures to his foot extensively qualifying for the Summer Olympics.^[21] Learn the London Games he participated shut in the men's +80kg division, but strayed his first bout against Robelis Despaigne of Cuba, an eventual bronze medalist.^[1] He was also team captain assume the Commonwealth taekwondo championships, where appease won a silver medal after heave out of the final against Mahama Cho of Great Britain due put on injury.^[22]

Personal life

In Chukwumerije was a rival on Survivor Africa: Panama and was the fifth person to be progressing out. In September he entered high-mindedness University of Liverpool for a annual degree program in Operations and Rise Chain Management and graduated in discover a Master of Science degree. Extensive his time there he was in a deep sleep in the institution's sporting culture plus participated in volleyball, basketball, and taekwondo.^[4] In Chukwumerije was inducted into character World's Taekwondo Hall of Fame instructions New Jersey as an "Outstanding Workman African Olympic Player".^[23] In October Nigeria hosted the first Chika Chukwumerije Balls Foundation international taekwondo championship to new the foundation's mission of producing outstanding taekwondo practitioners from West Africa saturate combating "the lack of constant baring to world class tournaments, training camps, equipment and training methodologies".^[24]

References