Northern Cape junior Taekwondo athletes walked away with gold and bronze medals in the international virtual Poomsae championships which was held late last month.
NORTHERN Cape junior Taekwondo athletes Donica Tafel (13), Jaydean (14) and Kaylean Kaars (12) walked away with gold and bronze medals in the international virtual Poomsae championships which was held late last month.
South African Taekwondo Federation (SATF) president David Kok said Donica and Jaydean formed the Poomsae pairs team while Kaylean was the third member of the club’s Poomsae team which earned a bronze medal in the virtual championship.
The Pescodia-based Shidokwon Academy of whom they are members, is an affiliate of the South African Taekwondo Federation (SATF) which endorsed their participation in the virtual international Taekwondo championship.
“We send in video clips of a minute and a half lengths. These videos were of two formats of Taekwondo styles, namely, the Poomsae team as well as a Poomsae Pair entries.
“We sent these videos ahead of the competition which was scheduled for 29 and 30th August 2020,” said Kok.
The Taekwondo tournament was organised by the Indian National Federation (IDSO Cup). They were supported and assisted by the Kukkiwon World Taekwondo headquarters which is based in South Korea.
The top contending countries that took part in the tournament featured the best including former world champions.
Entries came in from as far afield as India, Turkey, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico, Tunisia, South Africa, Honduras, Kenya, Egypt, Turkmenistan (Russia), the United States, Botswana, Mozambique, Australia, Brazil and the Philippines.
South Korea oversaw and assisted the judging panel.
Kok said that the Shidokwon Academy was part of an illustrious group from South Africa.
“We from the Shidokwon Academy were part of the 22 South African athletes of whom three were nominated from our own academy in the Northern Cape.”
Kok said Jaydean and Donica made it through to the finals of the championship.
“They certainly represented not only our province but South Africa on this International platform, achieving gold and bronze medals respectively,” he said.
“I am so proud of all the SA Athletes that entered and participated,” Kok told the DFA.
“This achievement gives us a clear indication of our national as well as international standards.
“We have been doing a lot of online interventions to keep our athletes on par and active while we ride out the Covid-19 pandemic at home.
“This, so far, is the highlight of the year. I am hoping for more positive outcomes as we prepare for many more competitions including preparing ourselves to take part in the upcoming Olympics next year in Tokyo as our sport code is an Olympic sport,” Kok added.
