A Bhutan Taekwondo Federation’s coach has been selected for Agitos Foundation Session on Para Taekwondo course at Tsukaba University in Tokyo, Japan from November 20 to 22.

Para Taekwondo is an adaptation of the sport of taekwondo for athletes with impairment.

The course is aimed at increasing the number of coaches, training and athletes’ education to develop the paralympics movement of the whole Asia region to improve their performance towards Tokyo 2020 and after Tokyo 2020.

Jangchub Choden said that Para Taekwondo is new in the country and it is an opportunity for her to improve her skills in this field. “I am optimistic that I can learn and impart the skills after coming back to the country.”

With the introduction of Para Taekwondo in the country, it will provide a platform for athletes with impairment to participate in the international competitions, she added.

Jangchub has been serving as a taekwondo coach for last three years. She is coaching about 215 students in Thimphu today.

She said her students are the source of inspiration. “By looking at their genuine interest in taekwondo and abilities, it encourages me to work hard every day and we share a strong bond.”

Jangchub, in 2017, represented Bhutan in the minus 62 kg weight category at the First Kathmandu International Taekwondo Championship in Nepal and the Fifth Martial Arts Championship in minus 62 kg weight category at Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Jangchub is from Trashiyangtse and currently living with her husband in Lungtenphu.

Meanwhile, two athletes from Bhutan Taekwondo Federation competed for this course by doing an examination related to Para Taekwondo in July this year. The exam was conducted by Bhutan Paralympic Committee.

Kyorugi (sparring) and Poomsae (martial art forms) are the two disciplines that the World Taekwondo conducts in competition format to include all impairments in Para Taekwondo.

Para Taekwondo Kyorugi competition is conducted in single elimination tournament system, round robin system or single elimination tournament system under different weight categories.

Para Taekwondo Poomsae competition is conducted in single elimination tournament system or double elimination tournament system under different weight categories.

Bhutan Paralympic Committee has also received an invitation from the Agitos Foundation to participate in the coaching course on Para Archery, Para Judo and  Para Powerlifting under the project  ‘Road to Tokyo 2020’ and ‘Agitos Foundation Session’.

The World Taekwondo is the sport’s governing body for Para Taekwondo.

WT founded the Para Taekwondo Committee in 2006 to promote and develop taekwondo for athletes with impairment.

In 2006, Para Taekwondo has begun developing the kyorugi (sparring) discipline. Since 2013, poomsae (martial art forms) discipline is also being developed for Para athletes.

The first Para Taekwondo Championship were held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2009. In 2017, Para Taekwondo was confirmed as a sport for the 2020 Paralympic Games.

Thinley Namgay