President, Kung Fu Federation of Nigeria, Architect Adewunmi Adekunle has urged the Federal Government to lift the ban on contact sports.
He made the call in a telephone interview with newsmen, amid the growing call from sportsmen and women on government to open contact sports.
Recall that the Covid-19 Presidential Task force had announced the resumption of non-contact sports few months ago, the Chairman, Kwara State Kung Fu noted that the partial opening is not enough for a full glare Kung Fu practice as a sport to take place.
Adewunmi, an expert in sport facilities design and management explained that Kung Fu is a martial art sports with two dimensions of participation, which includes; point scoring (contact) and demonstration (non-contact).
He stated that the hope of many athletes to haul medals in major competitions ahead may be expose to jeopardy as they can’t presentIy engage in the sport wholly.
‘There is no way we can achieve the best of Kung Fu among our athletes in view of their dream to savour medals in competitions ahead, because neither could they practice nor engage maximally in the face of the partial ban and reopening of sport generally’.
Bearing in mind that Covid-19 pandemic is real, he appealed to the government to review the situation and allow the opening of contact sports as he assured the compliance of the athletes to the protocols which will help stop the spread of the virus.
Adewunmi, who revealed that Kung Fu Federation featured in two international events last year and hauled medals in different categories, promised to spread the martial art game in schools across Nigeria.
He commended the Minister of Youth and Sport development, Mr. Sunday Dare for his untiring efforts in catering for the welfare of the athletes, a gesture he described as an apt definition of humanism which will further enhance their performances to get podium opportunities.
