Lagos – Thursdaline Peter, a bronze medalist at the just-concluded Lagos International Taekwondo Classics urged the Lagos State Taekwondo Association (LSTA) to substitute athletes’ cash reward for scholarship.

Peter said in Lagos on Monday that such would go a long way to assist athletes to combine their sporting careers with academics.

She noted that LSTA compensated athletes that excelled in their various weight categories with cash rewards at the end of competition held from May 7 to May 9.

“The LSTA has really done well by giving us the cash reward at the end of the competition but it should not be all about physical cash.

“Some of these athletes are from homes, where their parents cannot afford to finance their education but with scholarship, the burden will be taken care of,’’ she said.

The taekwondoist who aspires to be at the All Africa Games, said it was time for the body to provide significant means of motivating budding talents as well as encourage existing ones.

“There is no cash reward that an athlete gets now after winning a medal that will last but investing in their future will have more worth.

“It important to have something to fall back on after sports, and currently we should be able to have a solid education to balance our careers,’’ she said.

She added that with such measure in place, parents would be glad and give maximum support to their wards that want to develop their talent in the sports.

Peter, however, advised the body to enhance their sponsorship drive, while appealing to private and public sectors to also assist in the sport development by responding positively for sponsorship.