Imo Emerges Overall Winners at South east Taekwondo Championships

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The vibrant city of Owerri came alive over the weekend as the South East Taekwondo Championships thrilled fans and athletes alike at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Dan Anyiam Stadium. The three-day regional event, held from November 7 to 9, 2025, featured 74 athletes from four South Eastern states—Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu—competing fiercely for regional supremacy.

At the end of an intense and colorful competition, host state Imo emerged overall champions, topping the medal table with a remarkable haul of 41 medals—13 gold, 15 silver, and 13 bronze. Team Abia finished a close second with 28 medals (12 gold, 11 silver, and 5 bronze), while Ebonyi and Enugu followed with 8 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) and 4 medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) respectively.

Speaking during the medal presentation ceremony, the Imo State Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, lauded the organizers for staging a competition that promotes grassroots sports development in the region.

“I applaud this event that brings grassroots development and exposure opportunities to our youths in the South East,” Onyeocha said. “This initiative should be sustained, as it will, over time, produce national and international champions who will bring pride to both the region and the state.”

The championship also marked a notable return to the spotlight for Olympic medalist Chika Chukwumerije, who coordinated the event after a four-year hiatus from active sports administration. The former national icon expressed his delight at the quality of competition and the renewed enthusiasm for grassroots taekwondo in the region.

“I’m happy to see people come together to drive the grassroots development agenda,” Chukwumerije stated. “Our youth deserve platforms like this, and investing in their growth is the way forward. This is how future champions are made—one brick at a time.”

One of the standout performances came from 13-year-old Ikechukwu Chidiebere of Abia State, who clinched gold in the Cadet -49kg category. The young athlete, who previously won two bronze medals at the National Youth Games, described the competition as a crucial learning experience.6

> “I hadn’t competed since the Youth Games, and I was worried about losing form,” Chidiebere said. “This event helped me correct the mistakes I made previously and boosted my confidence for future competitions.”

For Enugu State’s Assistant Taekwondo Coach, Musa Enakheme, the championship served as a valuable preparatory test ahead of the National Sports Festival, which Enugu is set to host.

> “We’re working hard to assemble a strong team for the Festival,” Enakheme explained. “This event gave us a clear picture of where we need to improve and the level of competition we can expect.”

The success of the South East Taekwondo Championships has further reaffirmed the growing commitment of stakeholders to rejuvenating the sport across Nigeria’s regions. Organizers confirmed that the next regional championship will take place from February 20–21, 2026, in Umuahia, Abia State.

With the renewed energy and competitive spirit witnessed in Owerri, the future of Taekwondo in the South East looks promising—fueled by talent, passion, and a shared vision for excellence.