The 6th Asian Taekwondo Championship (ITF) started today at Dushanbe’s ‘Elite’ sport complex. More than 300 sportsmen from 17 countries – Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, North Korea, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and etc – are taking part in the event.
Tajikistan hosts this championship for the first time, President of the Tajik Taekwondo Federation (ITF) Mirsaid Yahyeev told AP. This is the biggest event in the history of Tajik sport. The program of the tournament includes sparrings in different weight divisions, complex exercises, board breaking and self-defense.
“Tajik Taekwondo Federation is very strong and it deserved the right to host the tournament in this country,” President of the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) professor Chang Yung told the reporters. “I’m confident that Tajik people deserve to host the Olympic Games in the future.”
MegaFon cell operator provided the participants with 100 SIM-cards on preferential terms. Sportsmen will be able to share their emotions and achievements with their friends and relatives, use mobile Internet and follow-up those events that are taking place in their home countries.
“This is the third taekwondo championship of international level which we support. Such tournaments are very important for Tajikistan’s image since it raises the image of our country at the international scene and allow sportsmen to show themselves,” first deputy manager of MegaFon Andrei Shishkovsky told the reporters.
83 sets of medals will be awarded to the winners.
In the course of the tournament Tajik junior team will be selected for taking part in the World Championship due in Estonia in August this year.
