Coach: There’s a need to find new talents in taekwondo

PETALING JAYA: National poomsae coach Yap Yih Tiing aims to unearth new talents to raise the profile of taekwondo.

On Friday, seasoned exponent Chew Wei Yan bade farewell to the sport after winning the men’s Under-30 individual event at the Taipei World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Taiwan while Sara Yap Khim Wen (pic) -Yong Jin Kun finished 13th in the Under-30 mixed pair event. Sara lost in the last 16 of the women’s individual event.

Yih Tiing said they needed new blood as there were chances of poomsae being introduced as a demonstration sport at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and be included at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

He said Taekwondo Malaysia (TM) may introduce junior categories in the upcoming National Championship in February to uncover talents.

“We need new talents as poomsae has a chance to be part of the future Olympics. We need to start now and not wait until it’s included in the Olympic programme,” said Yih Tiing

“The upcoming national meet can be a good start for us to identify talents.”

Poomsae ended Malaysia’s 16-year medal drought in taekwondo at the Asian Games in Indonesia in August when Sara won the bronze medal in the women’s individual.

Yih Tiing said the exponents have shown improvements in a short period of time under the guidance of South Korean coach Jin Junbeom.