[News] Bayelsa’s taekwondo athlete collapses before fight with Zamfara opponent at the National Sports Festival

The ongoing 21st edition of the National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State, took a different turn after Bayelsa’s taekwondo athlete, Daniel Otunoye, collapsed before facing his opponent from Zamfara state.

 

Otunoye who has now been ruled out of the event, suddenly collapsed at the multipurpose indoor sports hall in the Stephen Keshi stadium and was rushed to the medical center for treatment.

 

Dr. Anthony Enebe, the head doctor in charge of the NSF, ruled the athlete out of the festival after confirming that he is ashmatic.

 

Enebe said;

 

“The guy is okay now, he dislocated his right wrist and is a known asthmatic but the asthma isn’t so bad that he can’t compete in an event like this.

“I think the dislocation from an earlier bout was what caused him to faint and he needed to be taken out of the fight, but he is fine now. He is currently resting in the medical center.”

 

Enebe who also disclosed that the young athlete’s injury and current state would prevent him from participating in the remainder of the festival, added that his bout would not be postponed but would instead be forfeited.

 

He added;

 

“He can no longer make an appearance in this tournament, however, that the injury is the end of this competition for him”