CHENNAI: With distant but fervent hopes of the sport taking off big way in the city, the fifth Commonwealth Taekwondo Championship will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium from January 28 to 31. Competitors from 25 countries are expected to participate in the event.
Nearly 600 athletes inclusive of 450 foreigners would vie for laurels in junior and senior categories (both men and women). India will field a 170-member contingent—85 apiece in men and women, out of which 72 from both section would contest in the Kyorugi category and 13 each in Poomsae grid. There will be eight weight categories each in the men’s and women’s categories, 10 each in junior boys and girls. Only two Indians have ever previously participated in the event (Pankaj Dheer and Theophile Leo Lowe).
The tournament would also have the electronic body protectors being employed for the first time in an event. The system, based on its sensors, measures the intensity of the kicks; the protectors are connected, via Bluetooth, to computer software and a plasma screen, therefore, the points are granted in an objective way, not relying only on the human eye.
Organising president Harish Kumar reckoned the initiative would lend more credibility to the fairness facet of the game, and thus put a lid on spats and contentious decisions. Brian Willey from UK is the chairman of the referee committee while Lim Teong Chin from Singapore is the WTF delegate.
World Taekwondo Federation president Choungwon Choue will be the chief guest during the inauguration while B Sivanthi Adithyan, president of the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association, will inaugurate the event. Member Secretary of Sports Development of Authority, Satyabrata Sahoo will also be present for the event. Minister for Environment and Pollution Control, Sports and Youth Welfare is the chief guest for the valedictory function.