Chukumerije backs Anyanacho to win Tokyo Olympics medal

Three-time Olympian Chika Chukwumerije has backed Elizabeth Anyanacho to win a medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which comes up next year, but adds that the dream will be a reality if she gets financial assistance from the sports ministry.

Anyanacho qualified for Tokyo 2020 after a 12-5 victory over Gabon’s Urgence Mouega at the African Qualifiers in Rabat, Morocco in February.

The 21-year-old became the first Nigerian female taekwondo athlete to qualify for the Olympics in 16 years, after Olympian Princess Dudu achieved the feat at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

“She has everything to succeed at the Olympics,” Chukumerije said in a radio interview monitored by The Punch.

“But she will need funding to realise these dreams; she has the talent and with proper training, she will make the podium at the Olympics.

“We were prepared for July (2019)and knew we had a lot ahead of us. It has given us a year and we shall put it to good use. Her technique, tactics and mind we still need to work on.

“Olympics is the biggest stage, you can’t prepare enough. It increases your chances when you prepare better.”

National under-67kg champion, Anyanacho, has competed in 13 tournaments, winning eight of them and finishing twice in second and three times in third place.