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Mastering a martial art

Photos: Murali Kumar K.

Amazing grace This unarmed combat involves maximum use of legs

For the past three days, Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium is abuzz with frenetic actitivty as the Karnataka Taekwondo Association (KTA) has been conducting a mega Taekwondo Fest. Besides holding a National seminar, a poomsae competition, followed by a sub-junior and junior championship and National Open championship are being held. One only needs to be there to gauge the interest and passion that this Korean martial art form, which is now an Olympic discipline, evokes among the participants and spectators alike.

Taekwondo was originally developed as an art of self defence. Tae in Korean means foot, Kwon means fist and Do, stands for way and translated Taekwondo means “way with foot and fist”. This unarmed combat involves maximum use of legs and the way the contestants spar, dodge and virtually rotate 360 degrees on their feet is a sight to behold. Competitions are conducted basically in weight categories just as boxing and weightlifting.

The Bangalore event received record entries with the National open championship topping the list with 2,000 entries. While the numbers are impressive are Indians in the international class?

Taekwondo officials admit that India has long way to go, but they are making a determined effort to be one among top 10 nations in the world. Harish Kumar, President of the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI) says, “Certainly we have made progress. Earlier we were ranked around 140 in the world and we are now ranked among the top 40. It is a good sign with proper training and good exposure, our players would surely become top-class contestants at the international level soon.”

The TFI has left no stone unturned to better India’s prospects. According to TFI, getting a foreign coach, Iranian Fariboz Askari, was a master stroke as he has worked wonders with Indian players.

“Before Askari, our players were merely defending but he has taught them to attack and they have become much faster and think on their feet,”Praveen Kumar, Secretary General, TFI said. The Federation would love to have another coach, preferably from Korea, an eighth black Dan, which is among the highest level in the sport.

“We hired Askari at our cost and probably would do same for the second coach as well. We need two coaches, because our country is vast and we need to have coaches to train players at different centres, handling senior and juniors separately,” said Praveen Kumar. TFI has its main training base in Bhopal and Aurangabad and its Secretariat is based in Bangalore. It also has regional centres in Bangalore, Delhi, Imphal and Lucknow.

India made a mark in the international scene, getting a bronze in the Asian championship in Busan 2002 and that put the game on the Government’s priority list. But the joy of being on the list was short-lived as TFI was unable to get a proper training centre.

“Most of the facilities offered at Sports Authority of India (SAI) were inadequate and we were unable to conduct camp in sustained manner,” Praveen Kumar said. The game suffered but of late, the results are once again promising. India won a bronze in the Asian senior championship, two more bronzes came in Brisbane and India also won a silver in Fajar Cup in Iran, which is a major achievement considering the fact Iran is ranked second in the world.

“Unlike abroad, where players get an allowance or are paid to be in camp, we have little support to offer. But we are picking players from the Services and CRPF, where the institutions bear the expenses for the training,” Praveen Kumar said.

Taekwondo has been included as a major discipline by School Games Federation of India. Two editions of the National School Games have been conducted so far and the third one is scheduled in Goa later in November. It has also been included in CBSE sports calendar.

At the State level, the KTA, which came into existence in 1976, has been doing its bit for the game. The active body has been holding regular coaching camps and meets and also made a conscious bid to take the sport to the districts. “Almost all the districts now have training centres with a regular coach and we have decided to conduct all State championships in districts henceforth,” Shashi Vardhan, secretary of the KTA said.

There is busy schedule ahead of Indian Taekwondo team. In July, TFI plans to send a squad for fourth Children’s Asian Championship in Yakutia, Russia. India will also participate in fourth Commonwealth championship at Winnipeg in Canada in November and India will play host to the fifth Commonwealth championship in 2010.

“We are constantly striving to give our players as much exposure as possible. Our aim is to put Indian players in the next Olympics and that would mean a major breakthrough for us in the sport,” Praveen Kumar said in conclusion.

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