14 for international taekwondo festival

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SIBU: The 3-member team from Sarawak Taekwondo Federation (STF) returned with two gold and one silver medals from the recent 3rd Asian Zone Taekwondo International Open Championship held in Kota Kinabalu.

Wong (left) receiving team colours from STF committee member Lau Kiew Ee. Looking on at fifth and sixth from left are Dato Andrew Wong and STF Chairman Dr Henry Toh.

The gold medalists were Nicholas Tieh and Wong Kian Teck in the super junior feather-weight and senior bantam-weight categories respectively.

Yii Chii Soon clinched the silver in the senior junior feather-weight.

Meanwhile, STF will send 14 exponents to the 4th World Taekwondo Hanmadang Festival to be held in Pohang City, South Korea from Aug 21-24.

STF chief coach Pang Ming Sing said this was the first time STF was sending athletes for the festival.

The Korean event, held since 1992, will feature essentials of the martial art such as breaking, self defense, poomsae for both individual and group performance.

“Our athletes are entering uncharted territory and, hopefully, they can come back with something. Even a medal will do,” Pang added.

The Sarawak team can expect to compete against exponents from China, America and Europe.

“The standard is very high and it will be an excellent chance for our exponents to gain all the experience.”

The team will be led by Michael Wong.