In an exciting start to the taekwondo event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Nigeria’s Elizabeth Anyanacho is set to face China’s Jie Song in the opening round of the Women’s -67kg category.
The match will take place at the Grand Palais in France, a venue praised for its magnificence and excellent acoustics.
Anyanacho, who has made history as Nigeria’s first female athlete to qualify for consecutive Olympic Games in taekwondo, is seeded No. 10 among the 16 athletes in her weight class.
Her campaign begins on Friday, August 9, against the seasoned Chinese competitor and the 2023 Asian Games champion.
The tournament officially began on Wednesday, August 7, and with all weight categories drawn, Anyanacho must bring her best to the mat as she faces an opponent still chasing her first Olympic victory.
Other African contenders in the Women’s -67kg include Egypt’s Aya Hehata and Cote d’Ivoire’s Ruth Gbabi. Gbabi, in particular, is eyeing another Olympic medal to add to her collection from Tokyo 2020.
World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue expressed his enthusiasm at the pre-competition press conference, stating, “Taekwondo will shine at this Olympic Games. The Grand Palais is unlike any other venue.” He also commended Paris for its effective temperature management system within the historic glass-roofed site.
The Paris 2024 taekwondo tournament will host 134 athletes from 60 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), competing across eight weight categories from August 7 to 10.