Accra, July 3, GNA - Mr Worlanyo Agrah, acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council (NSC) has pledged the Council's support towards making Taekwondo a popular sport in the country. He gave the assurance during the opening ceremony of this year's National Taekwondo Championship held at the GNAT Hall, Kumasi, last weekend.

Mr Agrah commended the Ghana Taekwondo Association for effectively organising the championships which has drawn participants from all over the country, both male and female. He urged the athletes to give of their best in competitions to win laurels for the nation.

In the Male category, Masaud Mama Mustapha (Greater Accra Region), Terrance Tetteh (Brong Ahafo Region) and Allan Anku (Upper West Region) finished first, second and third in the Finweight division. In the Flyweight division, Emmanuel Dey (Upper West Region) emerged the winner followed by Soufianu (Eastern Region), Tuekpe Micheal (Volta Region) and Isaac Arthur (Greater Accra Region), whilst Stephen Losu (Ashanti Region), Debrah Mensah (Central Region), Selorm Segbefia (Volta Region) and Francis Oduro (Western Region) finished in that order in the Bantamweight division.

Umaru Ali (Central Region) emerged winner in the featherweight division, with Ismail Mamani from the Greater Accra Region placing second, Amantana Hudu of the Northern Region coming third whilst Augustus Agbozo of Eastern Region came third.

Mohammed Hussein of the Upper West Region finished tops in the Lightweight division followed by Shaibu Nando Yakubu of the Greater Accra Region, Dennis Quaye of the Western Region third and Kusi Abraham form the Ashanti Region placing third.

In the Welterweight division, Steavano Tuekpe of the Volta Region came tops followed by Emmanuel Ahiable from the Greater Accra Region while Seth A. Kyei from the Western Region placed third with Richard Akoto Prisons Service coming fourth

Augustine Lolly from the Central Region emerged winner in the Heavyweight division, followed by Maxwell Alornyo from the Upper West Region with Patrick Ampem 0f Western Region coming third and Gideon Tetteh of Greater Accra Region placing fourth.

In the Females category, Precious Akorli of the Brong Ahafo Region was the winner in the Finweight category followed by Edwina Tettey of the Central Region, Afia Biaa Poku of Ashanti Region was third with Ampim Jessica of the Greater Accra fourth.

In the Bantamweight division, Adwoa Asantewaa of the Central Region finished tops followed by Victoria Korledjoe of the Volta Region in second position with Jacqueline Arthur of the Ashanti Region third with Rabha Mohammed of Greater Accra Region placing fourth.

Rita Ateekema of the Upper East Region emerged tops in the Featherweight division, followed by Beauty Ansah from the Volta Region and Maria Jibil of the Ashanti Region placing third Favour Fiatuxo of the Ashanti Region finished first in the Middleweight division followed by Gwendolyn Osabu from the Brong Ahafo Region and Akos Nahdi of Ashanti Region placing.

Mohammed Hussein of Upper West was adjudged the best male Taekwondo fighter with Favour Fiatuxo of the Ashanti Region being adjudged the best in the female category.

The promising star in the male division was Steavano Tuekpe from the Volta Region whilst Adwoa Asantewaa Asare of the Western Region was the most promising female.

Present at the function were Sung Tai Kiiy, a Korean trainer attached to the National Taekowondo team and his assistant, Seung Hae Goo, Joseph Kwaw Yankson, Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, Dr. Reuben Tamakloe, Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Taekwondo coach. 03 July 09