Ghana wins bronze medal at Taekwondo Championship

Ghana has won a bronze medal at the just ended World Para Taekwondo Championship in Moscow, Russia.

The country was represented by Sharon Akwei and John Mensah Badu at the 5th edition of the championship.

The two-day event saw Sharon Akwei winning the bronze medal in the 75kg male open division while John Mensah Badu reached the quarter finals in another division.

Mr Odartey Lamptey, Public Relations Officer of Ghana Taekwondo Federation, told GNA that this was the first time a Ghanaian has won a medal in a world Taekwondo championship.

He said the coach of the team, Master Kim Gi-bok, is a Taekwondo expert seconded to Ghana from the Republic of South Korea to help develop the sport.

Mr Frederick Otu, President of the Federation, explained that one of the Federation’s programmes is to encourage persons with physical challenges to explore Taekwondo to develop their physical coordination, mental development and overall fitness.

He said the Federation is currently upgrading the skills of some instructors in order to send them to special schools to be taught Taekwondo.

Taekwondo is the science and art of using the feet and fists to repel an attacker.

The focus of Taekwondo as a sport is to develop mental alertness, self-discipline and sportsmanship.