The Federation will be conducting open selection trials for the 14^th Asian Cities Gold Cup Taekwondo Championships (Junior & Senior) which will be held from 19 to 21 February 2010 in Hong Kong.

The selection schedule is as follows.

Date                           –           8 November 2009 (Sunday)

Weigh-in                     –           12.00pm to 1.00pm

Selection                    –           2.00pm onwards

Venue                         –           STF Temporary Training Centre
                                              Greatland Building
                                              48 Lorong 21 Geylang
                                              #03-01
                                              Singapore 388464

Eligibility                     –           At least a 1^st dan or poom blackbelt
                                              Good fitness level (the STF reserves the right to

                                              request proof from a medical practitioner)

We would like to invite your players to participate in the trials.

Please fill in the attached form and submit it to the Secretariat by Wednesday, 4 November 2009.  We reserve the right not to accept late submission.  There is no limit to the number of players you can field.  The trial is open to Singapore Citizens only.  A copy of their blackbelt certificate or card and identity card must be attached with the submission form.

Registered players for the trials are to report at the Temporary National Training Centre before 12.00pm.  They shall be considered for the category based on their actual weight at the weigh-in and not according to the weight submitted in the form as we do not want to disqualify any players.  No weight allowance will be given.

The panel of selectors will comprise any 3 of the following senior technical members.

–  Mr Lim Teong Chin

–  Mr Steven Soh

–  Mr Chin Khee Shin

–  Mr RA Jeyaraman

–  Mr Lee Thiam Poh

–  Mr Tan Kok Heng

Please take note that the selected players for the 14^th Asian Cities must meet the training requirements (minimum 15 hours a week) from the time that they have been selected to be eligible for participation in the tournament. 

The selection trial and Player’s Undertaking forms are attached.  The Player’s Undertaking forms must be signed by parents for players under the age of 21 years old. 

Players will not be allowed to participate in the selection trials if they do not comply with the administrative requirements.

Ivan Mok, Singapore’s sole taekwondo representative in the 21^st Summer Deaflympics Taipei held at the end of August 2009 in Taipei, almost did the nation proud when he narrow missed a podium finish. Only one point separated him and a place in the semi-finals.

Ivan, facing Andrew Yick Chun Ki of Great Britain in the quarter-finals, was tentative in the first round. He was punished by his opponent who took a 2-0 lead at the end of the round.

After taking some valuable advice from his coach, Brian Peh, during the one-minute break, Ivan entered the arena for the second round with greater confidence. He showed it by using some high risk techniques which earned him a total of 3 points. The round ended with 3 a piece.

For the third round, Ivan decided to play a defensive game. That was a mistake! And it cost him the match and the opportunity to move on to the next round.

Said a disappointed Ivan: “I regret not keeping the same strategy I adopted for the second round. It was so close yet so far. Nevertheless, I have learned a lot from my first international exposure.”

Ivan was not the only one who had benefited from the outing.

Brian said: “I am honoured to be his coach in the Deaflympics and delighted to have gained invaluable insight on how the competition for the hearing impaired is conducted.

“It is my ardent wish that SADeaf can attract talented hearing impaired taekwondo players for future overseas competition. Plans are afoot for a World Cup Taekwondo for the Deaf. When it happens, we want to be there with a bigger and stronger team.”

Well, coaches, you have heard from Brian. If you have any potential hearing impaired students, encourage them to join SADeaf and do Singapore proud.