Fairview to host first taekwondo tournament

PORT Elizabeth will host the first annual Eastern Cape Taekwondo Provincial tournament at the Fairview Sports Centre on June 10.

The organisers are hoping to attract hundreds of competitors to the province to showcase their skills.

All competitors will be required to perform an optional as well as a designated pattern for their routines, while black belt entrants will be required to perform two patterns in their rounds.

The tournament will have a junior’s division for 14- to 17-year-olds, an adult’s division where 18- to 34-year-olds will compete, as well as a veteran’s category for entrants older than 35.

“We are hoping to bring in the best competitors from the Eastern Cape to display their skills at the tournament,” organiser Karina Vermaak said.

“Competitiveness will certainly be at a high.

“We also hope that it will bring awareness of taekwondo to the Bay.”

The competition will have two elimination rounds of 90 seconds, while the final elimination will have three rounds.

Successful competitors will be selected to represent the Eastern Cape at the upcoming Korean Martial Arts (KMA) and International Taekwondo Federation of South Africa competitions in Potchefstroom and Cape Town.

In addition to competing in these national events, they will also be awarded provincial colours.

The tournament will also be used as an opportunity to crown last year’s overall South African champions in all categories of the traditional Chang Hon Ryu style of taekwondo.

The teams will have a weigh-in session on June 2, at which junior competitors will be allocated to their fighting divisions.

Children who are more than 10kg heavier than their competitors will be moved to a higher age group.