03-May-2012
The News
Waqar Hamza
KARACHI: South Korea is considering giving scholarships to Pakistani Taekwondo players and Korean companies operating in Pakistan may also sponsor tournaments for the team, ‘The News’ has learnt.
Wasim Ahmed, Honourary Secretary Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), told ‘The News’ that they requested the South Korean Ambassador to Pakistan, Choongjoo Choi, two weeks ago to give scholarships to Pakistani players. “They have assured us that they are considering our request. We have also asked them to send their national youth team here in Pakistan,” he added.
The secretary further said that they had also urged the ambassador to persuade the Korean companies operating in Pakistan to sponsor events for Pakistan team. “I am quite hopeful that some of our requests will win their approval,” said the hopeful secretary.
He said that Korean Taekwondo coaches have not been coming to Pakistan to train Pakistani players for years due to security reasons. It may be noted that the national Taekwondo team could not get wild card for London Olympics 2012.
Taekwondo is the national sport of South Korea, which is the reason why Pakistan’s federation has Korean Ambassador as major sponsor. They have been organising national championships of the sport with the help of Korean Embassy for a long time.
According to the official website of the federation, “After the liberation of Korea the first Taekkyondo (Taekwondo) demonstration was presented by Master Song Duk-ki before the then President of Republic of Korea Syngman Rhee, on the occasion of his birthday. Taekwondo gymnasiums started opening, around 2,000 Taekwondo masters were sent to more than 100 countries for foreigners’ training.”
Source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/ |
