10th Asian ITF Taekwon-Do Championship Kicks Off in Bengaluru with Participation from 28 Countries

BENGALURU (KARNATAKA) –  The 10th Asian ITF Taekwon-Do Championship is set to make history as it unfolds at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from August 19 to 25, 2024. This marks the first time an Asian Taekwon-Do Championship is being held in Karnataka, and it promises to be a landmark event in India’s martial arts landscape.

The championship will see the participation of over 750 athletes ranging from 8 to 70 years of age, representing 28 countries from across Asia. The event is expected to be the largest of its kind ever held in India, showcasing the best of Taekwon-Do talent on an international stage.

The teams from the participating countries include India, DPR Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Russia, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, U.K, USA, Canada, and Afghanistan.

Today, Master Pradeep Janardhana, 7th Dan Black Belt, Secretary General of the Taekwon-Do Association of Karnataka, and Vice Chairman of the 10th Asian ITF Taekwon-Do Championships, Grand master Dr.Rajendran Balan ( 9th DAN) vice president of Asian Taekwondo federation, founder & president of TAI, and Master Abdul Rahiman Mangalassery- 8th DAN black belt brief the media persons about the 10th Asian ITF Taekwon-Do Championship at the Press Club Bangalore.

Organized by the Taekwon-Do Association of Karnataka (ITF), affiliated with the Taekwon-Do Association of India—the sole representative of the International Taekwon-Do Federation, Austria, in India—the championship will feature competitions across various disciplines that are part of all ITF world-level events. These include Individual Tuls, Team Tuls, Individual Sparring, Team Sparring, Individual Special Technique Competition, Team Special Technique Competition, Individual Power Competition, Team Power Competition, and Self-Defense Routine Competition.

Participants will compete in age categories ranging from 8-10, 11-13, 14-15, 16-17, 18-34, 35, 44 years to 45 years and above, with further divisions based on weight and belt levels. This ensures a comprehensive and inclusive competition that caters to all levels of expertise within the sport.

The event will officially be inaugurated on August 21, 2024, at 4:00 PM by Thawar Chand Gehlot, Governor of Karnataka. Other distinguished guests expected to grace the occasion include Krishna Byre Gowda, Minister of Revenue, Government of Karnataka; GM Prof. Ri Yong Son, President of the International Taekwon-Do Federation; Kim Myong Gun, President of the Asian Taekwon-Do Federation; GM Prof. Dr. Dato Leong Wai Meng, Vice President of ITF; Puran Tamta, Vice President of the Taekwon-Do Association of India, and Master Abdu Rahiman, Vice President, TAI & UAE Taekwon-do.

The closing ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 PM on August 25, 2024, promising a fitting conclusion to what is anticipated to be an exhilarating and competitive event.

Earlier, Master Pradeep Janardhana, 7th Dan Black Belt, Secretary General of the Taekwon-Do Association of Karnataka, and Vice Chairman of the 10th Asian ITF Taekwon-Do Championships, has extended an invitation to media houses across the country to support this monumental event. He emphasized the role of the media in fostering India’s sports culture and making the nation a global leader in sports.

This championship not only highlights the growing popularity of Taekwon-Do in India but also underscores the country’s capability to host large-scale international sporting events. As the athletes take the stage, the world will watch as Karnataka and India step into the spotlight of the global Taekwon-Do community.