The Comoros Taekwondo Federation has launched preparations for the 2027 Indian Ocean Island Games (Jioi) with a regional competition held in Ndzuani. The event, which took place in Mtsamdu, brought together taekwondo athletes from various clubs on the island. The competition was organized by the Ndzuani Taekwondo League and featured several weight categories. The event aims to select the best athletes to represent the region in the upcoming games.
The competition saw several athletes emerge victorious in their respective weight categories. Halifa Ahmed Abdou won the -54 kg category, beating Ali Ahmed and Amboul Houda who finished second and third respectively. Athame Kambi took the top spot in the -58 kg category, while Naoufal won the -63 kg category ahead of Nailane Darkawi and Khaled Keldi. Mouslim Abouhari emerged victorious in the -68 kg category, followed by Antoine Wakilou.
In the -74 kg category, Ibrahim Daniel took the top spot, beating Pledo and El-Amine. The technical event of poomsae, which rewards precision and mastery, was won by Halifa Ahmed Abdou, who beat Sarhane and Mouslim Abouhari. The competition was organized in response to a call from the national taekwondo federation to prepare the Ndzuani team for the upcoming games. Several cities where the discipline is practiced were involved, including Sima, Mtsamdu, Mirontsi, and Bazimini.
According to Maître Assane Bacar, a 3rd dan black belt from the Mirontsi Taekwondo Club, the competition aimed to mobilize athletes from the island around this event. He noted that the philosophy of the competition is to bring together athletes from different clubs and prepare them for the national selection. However, he expressed concern about the lack of regular competitions in the discipline, which can hinder the athletes' progress.
Fatima Youssouf Abdallah, a 2nd dan black belt and member of the competition jury, highlighted the importance of the event in preparing athletes for the 2027 games. She noted that the competition aimed to bring together practitioners from different clubs on the island and to finalize the list of athletes from different localities. Abdallah also expressed concern about the low participation of women in the discipline, noting that only two girls currently practice taekwondo in Ndzuani.
Abdallah encouraged girls to take up taekwondo, citing its benefits for physical and mental well-being. She emphasized that the sport can help women develop self-defense skills and maintain good health. The competition was seen as an opportunity for athletes to test their skills and prepare for the national selection.
The 2027 Indian Ocean Island Games are scheduled to take place from August 10 to 19 in Comoros. The games will feature athletes from various island nations competing in different sports, including taekwondo. The Comoros Taekwondo Federation is working to ensure that the country's athletes are well-prepared for the event.
Key points
- The competition was organized to prepare athletes for the 2027 Indian Ocean Island Games
- The event featured several weight categories and a technical event of poomsae
- The competition highlighted the need for more regular events and increased female participation in taekwondo
