Int’l taekwondo next year

Kathmandu, December 22

Nepal Taekwondo Association has rescheduled the World Taekwondo Hamnadang Championships for February next year.

The biggest tournament of world taekwondo governing body, KUKKIWON was postponed twice because of devastating earthquake and India’s blockade, informed Member Secretary of the organising committee Jagan Gurung, who is also the president of Kaski district taekwondo Association, at a press meet on Tuesday.

The championship will now be held from February 27-29 in Pokhara. Around 2,000 players from 20 countries are expected to take part in the tournament. “We had received confirmation from many countries in the past, but we will have to reconfirm the participation as we have rescheduled the championships,” said NTA President and convenor of main organising committee, Prakash Shumsher Rana.

NTA General Secretary Deep Raj Gurung said the association would hold district and regional selection tournaments before finalizing the Nepali team. “Nepal earned the opportunity to host the tournament after the KUKKIWON officials were impressed with our management during the second Mt Everest International Tournament,” said Gurung.

Out of the total estimated budget of Rs 150 million, KUKKIWON will bear 50 per cent, while the rest of the amount will be raised from National Sports Council, NTA and sponsors.