The Solomon Islands Taekwondo Federation (SITF) has confirmed its participation in the 27th edition of the World Taekwondo Championships, scheduled for October 24–30 in Wuxi, China.
SITF President Joses Duddley told Star Sports that World Taekwondo has recently approved the Federation’s request to send one athlete and one coach to the prestigious event on the global taekwondo calendar.
“As President of the Solomon Islands Taekwondo Federation, I am very happy that World Taekwondo has approved my request to send our team to Wuxi in China for the World Taekwondo Championships in October,” Duddley said.
He explained that only one athlete and one coach will be fully sponsored by World Taekwondo.
“Given that we can only register one athlete, we have to choose our most hardworking, dedicated, and committed athlete to represent Solomon Islands on the world stage,” he added.
Duddley stressed that competing at such a high-level event is part of SITF’s broader development program to raise the standard of the sport in the country.
Preparations are already underway, with the national squad training at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS).
“Our preparation for the World Taekwondo Championships is solid, given that our national squad is currently undergoing training at SINIS,” Duddley said.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Solomon Islands made its debut at the Korean Ambassador’s Cup Championship in Suva, Fiji, where teenage taekwondo sensation Tingsun Sia claimed gold in the men’s 58kg category.
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
