Ivorian Ruth Gbagbi bags gold at World Taekwondo championship

Ivory Coast won gold at the World Taekwondo Championships underway in South Korea, thanks to the heroics of Ruth Gbagbi.

The 23-year-old Olympic medalist defeated Tranian Kimia Alizadeh in the women’s lighweight final to pick gold.

The country’s speaker of parliament, Guillaume Soro, joined those congratulating her on her feat. She won bronze for Ivory Coast in the Rio Olympics and was awarded 30 million CFA ($51,000) and a house by the government.

Merci Ruth Gbagbi Bravo pic.twitter.com/tR07pgqsZV

— Guillaume K. Soro (@SOROKGUILLAUME) June 30, 2017

Her male compatriot who won gold in Rio however failed to replicate the heroics of months back, Cheick Sallah Cisse was eliminated in the round-of-32 category of the welterweight contest.

In other good news for the continent, Nigerien Abdoul Razak Issoufou picked gold whiles Gabonese Anthony Obame also won bronze in their contests.

The Ivorians left Abidjan on Sunday 18 June for the Republic of Korea. About 19 athletes have been participating in the tournament to defend the Ivorian flag.

This is the 23rd edition of the WTF’s signature tournament and seventh to take place in South Korea. It’s the largest world championships ever, with 971 athletes from 183 nations.