A total of 700 taekwondo exponents participated in the Martial Arts Taekwondo Championship 2014. Perak MCA chairman Datuk Mah Hang Soon launched this event at SMJK Perempuan Cina’s Leong Wan Chin Hall.
The participants from Perak, Penang, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor competed in the individual sparring, individual pattern and team pattern categories.
Dr Mah who is also the Chenderiang assemblyman said in his speech that he would ask Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri DiRaja Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to allocate RM5000 for Persatuan Taekwondo Daerah Kinta, for organising such a wonderful tournament.
He hoped that the association would hold such championship annually. “There are parents who focus only on the importance of education but ignore the benefits of sports. We need healthy and fit children, only then their minds would be able to concentrate on their studies.” he added.
Founder of Global Taekwondo Federation International, grandmaster Professor Datuk Seri Sabree Salleh said taekwondo was first introduced in Malaysia in 1962. “In those times, there were more adults learning this kind of martial arts. Fortunately, these days we see a lot of students keen to take up this form of sports and this is a good sign.”
As the organising chairman of the tournament, Mr Khoo Bu Leong was delighted to see 700 exponents from all over Malaysia, being together without the grouping of culture, race or belief as this was a sign of success for him. He also advised that “winning in the championship should not be the main purpose of taking part. One ought to enjoy and take experience in every match besides making new friends.”
