Libya, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Guinea and Tunisia showed their supremacy on the first day of the WTF African Taekwondo Qualification Tournament in Tripoli, Libya on Nov. 1, 2007.

In the men’s -68kg category, Libya’s Ezedin Belgasem F. Salem placed first and Nigeria’s Muhammad Isah Adam placed second to earn their respective country a place in the taekwondo competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

In the men’s +80kg category, Morocco’s Abdelkader Zrouri placed first, while Nigeria’s Chukwumerije Chika placed second.

In the women’s -67kg category, Morocco’s Benabderrassoul Mouna ranked first and Guinea’s Barry Mariama Dalanda placed second, while in the women’s +67kg category, Egypt’s Noha Safwat Hafez Abd Rabo ranked first and Tunisia’s Khaoula Ben Hamza placed second.

Thus, the first day of the WTF African Taekwondo Qualification Tournament saw six countries qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games.

A total of 77 athletes from 26 countries in the African continent are participating in the two-day African Taekwondo Qualification Tournament, which is under way at the African Union Hall in downtown Tripoli. A total of 22 referees are officiating the tournament.

On Oct. 31, a ceremony to mark the opening of the WTF African Taekwondo Qualification Tournament was held at the "picturesque" amphitheater in Tripoli.

Among the attendees at the ceremony, which drew about 200 people, were WTF Secretary General Jin Suk Yang, WTF Vice President Gen. Ahmed Fouly, and Mr. Hamza Elabed, president of the Libyan Taekwondo Federation. They delivered their respective congratulatory messages at the ceremony.

The ceremony featured a 20-member Korean taekwondo demonstration organized by Samsung, the global partner of the WTF. Samsung is sponsoring the ongoing WTF African Taekwondo Qualification Tournament.