KUCHING: Taekwondo Malaysia (TM-WTF) expects the status of the Korean martial art to be reviewed following the commendable showing by national exponents.
Prior to this, Taekwondo had been removed from the national list of core sports.
Malaysia finished 12th in the 24-nation standings, bagging one silver and two bronze medals, at last month’s World Poomsae Championships in Goyang, South Korea.
At this month’s Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, Malaysia brought home one gold, one silver and three bronze.
Sarawak Taekwondo Association (WTF) president Azizul Annuar Adenan, in a statement, hoped that the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) would weigh in on the National Sports Council’s (NSC) decision to remove Taekwondo from the core sports list, and subsequently restore the sport’s status.
“Taekwondo was removed from the list on Dec 12, 2017 without any notice or official letter to TM-WTF until now.
“Until today, TM-WTF have not been given the opportunity to discuss the matter, although they have repeatedly contacted KBS.”
According to Dhanaraj Rassiah, the chairman of the Technical Executive Committee and secretary-general of TM-WTF, the decision had a huge impact on the development of the sport.
“Many coaches—and exponents—who had made preparations for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) had their contracts terminated immediately.
“Most MSN and ISN facilities and services were out of bounds with the reason being Taekwondo is no longer listed as a core sport.
“This situation not only threatens the development of our young exponents but breaks their spirit. TM-WTF are also finding it difficult to seek sponsorship to achieve the mission of winning the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in Taekwondo.”
TM-WTF hoped that minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu would help the sport get justice and restore its status as a core sport.
