Lagos: Zara Lawal of Bowine International School on Saturday won the gold medal at the Smart Kiddies Taekwondo Championship (SMAKITAC).
The tournament was held at Diamond International School, Lagos.
Lawal emerged as the gold medallist after winning all three rounds in the highly competitive event.
Ebuoluwa Ogunsanya of Potter’s Schools and Olivia Abugu won silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Zara stood tall as the champion, displaying remarkable skill and unwavering composure throughout the tournament.
With a series of precise kicks, blocks, and punches, she outmanoeuvred her opponents, earning top honours in the prestigious event.
Her impressive performance earned her the coveted title, cementing her position as a rising star in tournament taekwondo.
In the poomsea female category, Salome Lehinger of Saint Saviour School claimed gold, while Alaba Tipenioluwa of Porter School took silver.
Nifemi Mosuro of Bambini School and Daniela Udu of Children International School shared the bronze medal.
In the poomsea male category, Antoine Gakhouri of Children International School won gold, while Imisioluwa Idowu of Redeemers School took silver. David Otitolaye of Potter’s schools and Kamar Akindunni claim bronze.
In the final category, David Afolabi of Supreme School won gold, while Dunsin Fashola took silver. Jayden Dennis of St. Saviour’s School claimed bronze.
In the heavy male category, Zare Appati of Bowine International School claimed gold, while Imisioluwa Amos of Redeemers Foundation School took silver.
Joshua Chialuka of Bambini School and Onyedika Obi won bronze, respectively.
In the junior 123cm category, Karl Abi-Chahime claimed gold, while Wareez Owoyemi of Glowfield International School took silver. Olaoluwa Omole of Potter’s schools and Gibson Fubara won bronze.
In the Ti Tying category, Gabriel Borisade of Children International School won gold, while Aminu Ebitomo of Treasure House School won silver.
Nina Bryma of Abba Heart School and Ahmed Dantata of Diamond Schools won bronze.
In the tigers category, Chimamanda Akwueze of St. Saviour’s claimed the gold, while Jaden Hassan of Diamond School took silver. Mariam Usaine of Bambini School and Olayinka Jeremiah of Potter’s schools claim bronze.
In the pandan’s category, Williams Adebayo of Abba’s Heart School won gold, while Chloe Nwankwo of Bowine International School took silver.
Demilade Ikeduwade of Redeemers School and Jayden Ezifile of Diamond School claim bronze.
Speaking, Lawal expressed pride and delight in her achievement, saying, “I feel proud of winning and making my school proud.
“I feel happy and proud of myself that I was able to accomplish this.”
The budding athlete revealed that her passion for Taekwondo and self-defence drove her to participate in the tournament.
She encouraged fellow contestants to stay resilient and keep pushing themselves, saying, “They should just keep on trying and pushing themselves, and they will accomplish it.”
The South-South Zonal Representative for Taekwondo, Victoria Bedetere-David, has lauded the use of the Generation 2 electronic scoring system at the tournament.
She described the technology as a significant boost to transparency and athlete confidence, noting that it ensured fair judgment and reduced scoring disputes during bouts.
“The system enhanced real-time assessment of kicks and strikes, giving referees accurate data to work with,” she said.
She added that the improved consistency in scoring encouraged athletes to compete with greater precision and professionalism.
She expressed optimism that broader adoption of the system would elevate Nigeria’s performance standards and prepare young fighters for international championships.
Bedetere-David said the system has helped young athletes align with global standards, adding that it encourages them to master proper techniques as only accurate kicks score points.
“The introduction of the electronic system is designed to help children understand modern competition protocols used worldwide,” she said.
The official noted that the tournament aimed to expose children to competitive Taekwondo and provide a platform for them to showcase their skills.
However, she highlighted a challenge posed by parents unfamiliar with the scoring rules, particularly in ties involving head and trunk kicks.
She described the tournament as a well-organised championship that highlighted discipline, skill, and the future of Nigerian talent.
Bedetere-David praised the organisers for creating a competitive environment that allowed young athletes to showcase their technical abilities and mental strength.
“The tournament stood out for its professionalism from the arrangement of rings to the strict adherence to international rules.”
She said the seamless coordination of officials and impressive turnout of participants reflected growing interest in Taekwondo across the region.
She added that the tournament had positioned itself as a model for grassroots development.
