The STF will be organizing a Sparring Course (Fundamental) on Saturday 2 May 2015 from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Candidates going for their 1st poom or dan will be exempted from sparring if they have the fundamental certification.
The team competed with black armbands at the 12th Asean Taekwondo Championships which was held from 23 to 26 March 2015 in Hochiminh City, Vietnam as a mark of respect for Mr Lee Kuan Yew, first Prime Minister of Singapore.
A Vietnamese newspaper carried an article on the team members wearing the armbands.
A translation of the article is furnished below.
THE LABOUR NEWSPAPER
(NLĐO) – Để tưởng niệm cố thủ tướng Singapore Lý Quang Diệu vừa qua đời, các võ sĩ đến từ đảo quốc sư tử đã đeo băng tang trên cánh tay trái khi tham gia tranh tài tại Giải Vô địch và trẻ taekwondo Đông Nam Á lần thứ 12-2015.
In order to commemorate the former PM Lee Kuan Yew who just passed away yesterday, athletes from the City of Lion wore a black string on their left arms when competing at the 12th Southeast Asian Taekwondo Championship in Vietnam in 2015.
Tối 23-3, Giải Vô địch và trẻ taekwondo Đông Nam Á lần thứ 12-2015 đã khai mạc tại Nhà thi đấu TDTT Lãnh Binh Thăng (quận 11, TP HCM). Ngay trong ngày khai mạc, để tưởng niệm cố thủ tướng Singapore Lý Quang Diệu, các võ sĩ đến từ đảo quốc này đã đeo băng tang trên cánh tay trái khi tham gia thi đấu.
On the evening 23-3, the Championship has been inaugurateed at Lanh Binh Thang Sports Stadium (district 11, HCMC). In the opening session of the event, athletes from the City of Lion wore a black string on their left arms when performing competitions to commemorate the former PM Lee Kuan Yew who just passed away.
Think twice before you mess with these kids! Spirits were high as families and friends of young participants filled the halls with excitement and cheer at the NESTLÉ KOKO KRUNCH Junior Taekwondo Singapore Championship 2015 on Sunday. An astounding 550 children came pumped with taekwondo self-defense and combat skills as they battled it out to be amongst the finalists of the Championship.
The NESTLÉ KOKO KRUNCH Junior Taekwondo Singapore Championship strikes back for the third year with a record-number of participation, a big jump from only 200 participants last year. Targeted at boys and girls from ages 7 to 12 years old, children showed off their exhilarating high kicks and amazing moves at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall.
To encourage team spirit at an early age and increase awareness of other categories, the Championship also saw its first team participation added to the line-up in this year’s competition. The Poomsae category includes Recognised (team) and Creative Poomsae categories, which were displayed for the first time.
Other categories in the competition include Poomsae (Individual) and Kyorugi. Unlike Poomsae, which is a display of fixed Taekwondo movements, Kyorugi is a form of sparring using the fist, hand and foot.
Mr Milan Kwee, President of Singapore Taekwondo Federation said, “Witnessing the overwhelming participation year-on-year at NESTLÉ KOKO KRUNCH Junior Taekwondo Singapore Championship is extremely heartening for us at Singapore Taekwondo Federation.”
“I was blown away by some of the younger athletes as they demonstrated stamina, ability and mastery. I wish all our finalists the best in the Grand Finals in Kuala Lumpur, and hope they can do Singapore proud!” added Mr Kwee.
Darren Yap Zong-Han, who won 3 gold and 1 bronze medals (1 gold medal in Kyorugi, 2 gold and 1 bronze medals in Poomsae), shared, “This is my third time taking part in the Singapore Championship. I trained hard with my coaches over the past few months, and am very happy with my achievements today. I am excited to move on to the Grand Finals in Malaysia, and I hope to clinch a medal for Singapore!”
Ms Winnie Foo, Business Manager of Nestlé Breakfast Cereals, shared that the competition helps the young taekwondo exponents demonstrate sportsmanship, confidence, and discipline.
“Like any sport, the right nutrition plays a vital role for athletes. KOKO KRUNCH provides Whole Grain goodness for these kids, so they can be at their best in their competition. We are excited to see how the finalists will move on to the next round with zeal and determination,” said Ms Foo.
Organised by the Singapore Taekwondo Federation for the local Championship, winners will represent Singapore in Kuala Lumpur for the Grand Finals on 31 May 2015.
The Regional NESTLÉ KOKO KRUNCH Junior Taekwondo Championship, will see Malaysia hosting three regional legs and the Grand Final in Kuala Lumpur on 31 May 2015. Regional winners from Malaysia and Singapore will compete to become the regional champion.
The Poomsae Coach Course will be held on Saturday 28 March 2015 from 2.00pm onwards at the STF National Training Centre at Block 80 Lorong Limau #04-191 Singapore 320080.
Bishan Community Club coaches – Cheonk Choon Kiat, Terence Ng and Tang Tak Shiu, recently took the lead by cleaning and mopping the area where they have their regular training in the Bishan CC Multi Purpose Hall.
The students were taught to respect and take care of the area where they train. It was also a team bonding session and everyone enjoyed the activity.
Mr Rocky Go, Chief Coach, thanked his coaches for leading by example.
SEA Games potentials from the Singapore Taekwondo Federation were invited to give a demonstration at the OneTeamSG Rally on 7 March 2015 at Orchard Road’s “Pedestrian Night”.
The performance was well received by the huge crowd. The VIPs present included Mr Lawrence Wong (Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Ministry of Communications and Information) and Mr Lim Teck Yin (Chief Executive Officer, SportSG)
Randee Ng (Deputy Head, Supply Chain Management FS, SportSG) said, “The young TKD team put on a very gold show”.
Parents and members of the national training squads were also present to support our young performers.
To promote sportsmanship among young Taekwondo exponents, NESTLÉ KOKO KRUNCH Junior Taekwondo Championship kick-started its 10th edition by setting a new record in the Singapore Book of Records today.
In collaboration with the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF), 1,400 Taekwondo students from Edgefield Secondary School gathered to create a human formation of the SG50 logo to mark Singapore’s Golden Jubilee. The students then proceeded to kick and break 2,800 planks in a team formation, setting the new record for the “Most Number of Planks Broken in Kicking Sequence” in the largest local Taekwondo demonstration.
Edgefield Secondary School is the first and only school in Singapore to introduce Taekwondo sport as a compulsory Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) for all Secondary 1-5 students. Experienced instructors from STF provide weekly Taekwondo lessons on Poomsae (offense and defense techniques) and Kyorugi (sparring) at the school.
“Taekwondo is a sport for everyone. At STF, we believe that every child should be taught the values of Taekwondo, and become champions of their own by realising their dreams through the sport,” said Mr Milan Kwee, President of Singapore Taekwondo Federation. “Today’s event is exemplary that anyone can take up Taekwondo, and even break a record at that. I am heartened to see such great rapport and enthusiasm from the students at Edgefield Secondary School.”
Kang Rui Jie and Chelsea Sim struck gold again at the 2015 US Open which was held from 20 to 25 January 2015 in Orlando, Florida.
The golden pair beat former world champion Kang Suji and her partner to 2nd place in a nail-biting final showdown. In the run-up to the final, Rui Jie and Chelsea thrashed the Korean pair of Kim Gunsoo & Kim Hyeeun to 3rd place and current world bronze medalist American Clarissa Angela Fu & David Sui Lung to 5th place.
The conscientious pair has been training relentlessly in preparation for the 2015 Singapore SEA Games which will be held from 12 to 14 June 2015.
