Category: Taekwondo

Islamabad (Asghar Ali Mubarak):

Asian Champion Martial Arts Queen Laiba Rabnawaz Janjua’s Master Degree Black Belt Test Achieves Outstanding Success, Laiba Janjua demonstrated her strong determination, dedication, skill, perseverance, and bravery and won great applause from the audience in the Master Degree Black Belt Test. On her success, Sheehan Muhammad Ashraf awarded Laiba Janjua the Black Belt. According to the details, the Master Degree Black Belt Test of Martial Arts Queen Laiba Rabnawaz Janjua was held at the Headquarters World So-Kyokushin Federation, North America So-Kyokushin Organization, and Raja’s Martial Arts. The Master Degree Black Belt Test was organized as per international standards. The jury duties in the test were performed online by Shihan Raja Khalid while in the headquarter Shihan Muhammad Ashraf, Shihan Babar Sohail Bhatti, Shihan Khalid Qureshi, Shihan Majid Mughal, Sensei Masuluddin, Sensei Kamran, Sensei Raja Latif, Sensei Raja Rahim, Sensei Kashif Riaz. In addition, the Vice Chairman of the Sociology Federation, Medium Iram Nadeem, Executive Member Medium Nazia, Medium Saima, Raja Zia Janjua, Raja Razi Janjua, Miss Tahira Bano Mubarak Advocate, Former Candidate for National Assembly and Member Executive High Court Bar Rawalpindi, Former Candidate for National Assembly Miss Uzma Mubarak Advocate, Azmat Ali Mubarak Advocate, Sports Journalist Asghar Ali Mubarak, Medium Shamim Akhtar, Malik Usman Shakeel, Medium Ayesha Khurram Principal Roots School participated. Shihan Muhammad Ashraf, Shihan Babar Sohail Bhatti, the jury supervised the test and completed theory, basic information, kata and 20 fights. Martial Arts Queen Laiba Rabnawaz Janjua was awarded a black belt by Shihan Muhammad Ashraf for her successful test, Shihan Babar Sohail Bhatti awarded black belt certificate, while Shehan Khalid Qureshi awarded the club’s license. The audience was amazed by Laiba Rabnawaz’s excellent performance. Raja Zia Janjua presented a trophy and shield with a special sword by Raja Razi Janjua. Shields and gifts were given by Shihan Muhammad Ashraf, Shehan Babar Sohail Bhatti, Sensei Raja Rahim, Sensei Kashif Riaz, Sensei Anib Butt, Shaban Janjua and Rajaz Martial Arts. Shehan Raja Khalid Mahmood Janjua, President and Branch Chief World So-Kyokushin CEO Raja’s Martial Arts congratulated Laiba Rabnawaz Janjua on passing the test. Sensei Liaquat, Sensei Kamran Khan, Sensei Raja Latif participated from Liaquat Martial Arts Karate Club.

Islamabad (Sportsnaama Report):

Pakistan’s taekwondo athletes have delivered an outstanding performance in the Poomsae event of the Combaxx 7th Asian Taekwondo Open, concluding the category with a total of 16 gold medals—8 on the opening day and 8 more on the second day. The national contingent also secured 7 silver and 14 bronze medals on day two, further solidifying Pakistan’s dominance in the competition.

With five days of action still remaining, the focus now shifts to the highly anticipated Kyorugi (sparring) events, where Pakistan aims to continue its impressive run. The championship, featuring top athletes from across Asia, will conclude on 20th February.

Gold Medalists on Day Two (8 Golds)

Pakistan’s athletes displayed exceptional skill and synchronization, clinching gold in various team and individual events:

Free Style Mixed Team Over 17 – Naqvi, Sial, Abbas, Iqbal, Maryam

Free Style Pair Over 17 – Nailah, Hamza

Free Style Individual Over 17 (Male) – Hamza Ameer

Free Style Individual Over 17 (Female) – Naqvi Zymal

Team Under 30 Male – Qadeer, Waheed, Deedar

Team Over 30 Male – Ahmed, Hussain, Mumtaz

Team Over 30 Female – Nisa, Sabir, Bashir

Team Under 30 Female – Sheraz, Batool, Maryam

Silver Medalists (7 Silvers)

Pakistan’s athletes continued to shine with 7 silver medals, showcasing strong performances across multiple categories.

Bronze Medalists (14 Bronzes)

The depth of Pakistan’s taekwondo talent was further highlighted with 14 bronze medals, proving the country’s rising status in the sport.

Focus Now on Kyorugi (Sparring) Events

With the Poomsae events concluded, all eyes are now on the Kyorugi (sparring) competitions, where Pakistan will compete for more podium finishes. The national taekwondo team, buoyed by its strong start, is determined to build on this momentum and further strengthen its position on the international stage.

Pakistan’s remarkable performance in the Combaxx 7th Asian Taekwondo Open is a testament to the country’s investment in martial arts and the dedication of its athletes. With the competition running until 20th February, the nation hopes to celebrate even greater achievements in the coming days.

Islamabad (Sportsnaama Report):

The Pakistan Taekwondo Federation is proud to announce that it will host the Combaxx 7th Asian Taekwondo Open Championships 2025, scheduled from 14 to 20 February 2025 at the Liaquat Gymnasium, Islamabad.

This major international event will feature 113 Poomsae athletes from 22 countries, along with 200 international delegates, including athletes, officials, and referees. Additionally, the championship will witness fierce competitions in the Kyorugi category, comprising:

Junior Division: 110 Participants
Senior Division: 302 Participants

The championship promises to be one of the largest Taekwondo events in the region, with over 400 Kyorugi participants, further highlighting Pakistan’s growing prominence in the global Taekwondo arena.

The confirmed countries and their respective athlete strengths are as follows:

1. Oman – 2 Athletes
2. Iran – 15 Athletes
3. Palestine – 7Athletes
4. Afghanistan – 31 Athletes
5. Saudi Arabia – 29 Athletes
6. Kazakhstan – 6 Athletes
7. Egypt – 11 Athletes
8. France – 5 Athletes
9. Great Britain (GBR) – 1 Athlete
10. Morocco – 2Athletes
11. Kenya – 3 Athletes
12. Mali – 2 Athletes
13. Portugal – 1 Athlete
14. UAE – 3 Athletes
15. Greece – 1 Athlete
16. Jordan – 1 Athlete
17. Andorra – 2 Athletes
18. Canada – 1 Athlete
19. Iraq – 1 Athlete
20. Uzbekistan – 5 Athletes
21. Tajikistan – 4 Athletes
22. Germany – 3Athletes

President Pakistan teakwondo federation Col (R) Raja Waseem Ahmed stated: “This championship is a remarkable opportunity to showcase Pakistan’s hosting capabilities while promoting Taekwondo at both junior and senior levels. With over 400 Kyorugi participants and 113 Poomsae athletes, the event will be a spectacular display of talent and sportsmanship.”

Spectators and sports enthusiasts can expect electrifying performances as athletes compete for glory, fostering camaraderie and cultural exchange.

Sportsnaama Report:

Shahzaib Khan of Pakistan won the Gold Medal in -54 KG in the Asia Open Kyorugi Taekwondo Championship by defeating Kalamba of the Philippines in the final. Hamza Saeed, on the other hand, was defeated by Kazakhstan’s Kablan in the final. Mr Hamzah Omar Saeed has awarded Silver Medal in +87 KG.

In the -54kg weight category final, Shahzaib Khan claimed the gold medal for Pakistan after an exciting match, defeating Kalamba from the Philippines. In the first round, Kalamba led with 11 points to Shahzaib’s 6. However, Shahzaib made a remarkable comeback in the second round, winning 10-3, and dominated the third round with an 18-0 victory, securing Pakistan’s first gold medal in the event.

Earlier, in the semi-finals, Shahzaib had qualified for the final by defeating Indonesia’s Hidayat Tomakaka in a thrilling match with scores of 12-14, 16-14, and a decisive 22-0 in the third round.

In the +87kg weight category final, Kazakhstan’s Kablan defeated Pakistan’s Hamza Saeed with a score of 5-1 and a tie of 4-4, winning the gold medal.

Mr Noman Khan in (-63KG) – Lost Qtr Finals and Mr Saud in (-63 KG) – Lost Qtr Finals.

On this occasion, the President of the Pakistan Olympic Association, Syed Abid Qadri, Secretary General Khalid Mahmood, Chairperson of Special Olympics Pakistan Ronak Lakhani, and the President of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation, Colonel Waseem Janjua, along with CEO Omar Saeed, congratulated Shahzaib Khan on winning the gold and Hamza Saeed for securing the silver medal.

Sportsnaama Report:

Pakistan’s Ihtishamul Haq wins Silver Medal Defeated by Malaysia’s Zubair in the final whereas Maleeha Ali bagged the Bronze Medal in the 6th Asian Taekwondo Open championship 2024 held at Tangerang, Indonesia.

The results of Team Pakistan on First Day during 6th Asia Open Karogi Taekwondo Championship held in Tangerang, Indonesia.

In the (-87 kg) final, Malaysia’s Zubair defeated Pakistan’s Ikhtshamul Haque by 5-7 and 7-12 points. Whereas, Ikhtsham-ul-Haq won the Silver Medal by defeating 13-10 and 10-0 against Azhar Salim of Indonesia. KASSANOV Izyat defeated Pakistan’s Arbaz Khan 2-1. Arbaz Khan won the first round 8-6, but Izyat bounced back to win the second round 9-7 and the third round 7-19. 

Qualified for the semi-finals in the women’s -73 category in the semi-finals, Korea’s Shin Jeongeun beat Pakistan’s Maleeha Ali 3-0 and 4-1 to make it to the final in the women’s -57 category in the Philippines. Mc CANN Nicole won by 3-5 and 7-5 margin against Pakistan’s Noor Fatima.

CHUNCHEON, Korea (KHURRAM SHEHZAD): The World Taekwondo Junior Championships concluded with
gold medals for Korea’s Junho Sim, Morocco’s Amina Dehhaoui and Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN)
Amir Vykov.
It has been an outstanding six days in Chuncheon, where Taekwondo’s young stars from around the
world have delivered a magnificent competition and demonstrated there is a bright future for the
sport.
Iran finished top and hosts Korea were second in both the women’s and men’s team standings.
After the conclusion of the World Taekwondo Junior Championships, the following awards were
presented:
 Most Valuable Player Men: Amirmohammad Ashrafi (Islamic Republic of Iran) M+78kg
 Most Valuable Player Women: Yumin Lee (Korea) W-46kg
 Men Team Standing: Iran, Korea, Uzbekistan, Croatia, Greece
 Women Team Standing: Iran, Korea, Croatia, Chinese Taipei, China
 Best Men Team Coach: Feizoallah Nafjam (Iran)
 Best Women Team Coach: Fatemeh Safarpoor (Iran)
 Best Male Referee: Mickael Cruz (Puerto Rico)
 Best Female Referee: Mijung Lee (Korea)
 Good Fighting Spirit: Saudi Arabia
 Active Participation Award: Mongolia

Men’s -59kg
Sim took the first gold medal of the final day in dramatic fashion as he triumphed in the closing
seconds against Türkiye’s Yusuf Badem. The Korean athlete had the edge in the first round, leading
for most of it and eventually winning 14-7. However, Badem started the second round brightly with
an early head kick which set the tone for a comfortable 10-1 victory. That forced a deciding round, in
which the momentum appeared to have shifted in Badem’s favour. He led until last few seconds, but
two body shots helped Sim to move into a 10-7 lead and seal a remarkable victory.
In the semi-finals, Sim overcame Jordan’s Mahmoud Bassam Yousif in two close rounds, while
Badem prevailed in two tight rounds against Ukraine’s Samir Mirzoiev.

Women’s -55kg
Dehhaoui and AIN Aminat Ramazanova cancelled each other out for most of the first round of the
final, but two body kicks in the final 30 seconds proved decisive for the Moroccan athlete as she took
it 5-1. It was similarly cagey in the first minute of the second round, but Dehhaoui seized control and
a flurry of points helped her to triumph 12-3.
In the semi-finals, Dehhaoui lost the first round to Croatia’s Ema Bugarinović, but then did not
concede a point in the two rounds that followed to ensure her progress. Ramazanova edged a close

first round against Mümüne Nur Göz of Türkiye, then powered to a victory by technical superiority in
the second.

Men’s -68kg
Vykov took the final gold medal of the Championships in style as he triumphed in each of the rounds
at the quarter-final, semi-final and final stage by technical superiority.
In the gold medal match against Korea’s Junhyuk Lee, Vykov started off strongly and rounded off a
12-0 victory by technical superiority with a reverse turning kick to the head. Lee was able to stem
Vykov’s flow for much of the second round, but Vykov was still able to create a 12-point gap at 14-2
in the closing stages to seal gold.
Vykov had earlier dominated Thailand’s Krittayot Phrompatju in the semi-final and Montenegro’s
Ognjen Komatina in the quarter-final. On the other side of the draw, Lee’s semi-final against Egypt’s
Omar Muhammad Fathy was one of the most dramatic of the Championships. All three rounds
finished level on the scores, but it was Lee who went through with a last-second head kick in the
decider.

The next edition of the World Taekwondo Junior Championships will be held in 2026.

LIAQUAT MUMTAZ:

On the penultimate day of the World Taekwondo Junior
Championships, Hana Zarrinkamar Roudbari and Ghazal Houshmand became the latest Iranian gold
medallists, and there were triumphs for Croatia’s Oscar Kovačić and Korea’s Jaewon Park.
Zarrinkamar Roudbari and Houshmand both won the second rounds of their respective finals by
technical superiority to seal their victories – the former overcame Korea’s Lim Yerim in the women’s
-68kg category and the latter defeated China’s Xiruo Yang in the women’s -42kg.
In the men’s -78kg, Kovačić came out on top in an entertaining final against Poland’s Michał
Szadkowski, while in the men’s -73kg Park came from behind to beat Aliakbar Ebrahimi and prevent
an Iranian treble on day five.

Men’s -78kg
Szadkowski made a promising start in the final which saw him lead 2-0 and 4-3, but Kovačić grew
into the first round and made the pressure on his opponent count by taking it 13-4. In the second
round, Szadkowski pushed Kovačić all the way and forced his opponent to concede four Gam-Jeom.
However, the powerful kicking from the Croatian athlete proved decisive, helping him to triumph 10-
8 and win gold.
Kovačić won bronze at the 2022 World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, but his
gold in Chuncheon was well deserved having displayed great quality and resilience throughout the
day. In his semi-final against Iran’s Amin Mohammad Ahmadvand, Kovačić suffered a first-round
defeat by technical superiority, but a superb response allowed him to inflict the same fate on his
opponent in the following two rounds to seal his place in the final. In the corresponding semi-final,
Szadkowski was dominant against Spain’s Jesus Pacheco Jimenez.
Ahmadvand and Pacheco Jimenez earned bronze medals in the men’s -78kg weight division.

Women’s -68kg
Zarrinkamar Roudbari started the final against Lim in fine fashion, scoring six points from two head
kicks awarded on video review. She played out an 11-6 win to take the first round, and finished the
final with a flourish in the second round as her power and force proved too much for Lim, resulting
in a victory by technical superiority for the Iranian athlete.
Zarrinkamar Roudbari had a difficult route to the final, needing to come from one round behind
against Poland’s Julia Nowak in the semi-finals and requiring three rounds to overcome Croatia’s
Maja Srhoj in her round of 32 opener. Lim in contrast had not dropped a round before the final,
including a strong showing in her semi-final against Chinese Taipei’s Wei-chia Wang.

Men’s -73kg
The men’s -73kg final featured an excellent turnaround by Park against Ebrahimi. In a captivating
first round, Ebrahimi led for most of it, and hit back in the closing seconds to take it 14-11 after Park
had edged his way into a late lead.
However, the momentum swung Park’s way in the second round, when a superb performance was
capped off with a reverse turning kick to the head to seal a 13-3 win. Park was increasingly looking in
control of the contest, and completed the comeback with a 10-6 victory in the deciding third round.
Park had earlier prevailed in a closely fought semi-final against Italy’s Angelo Mangione. Azerbaijan’s
Huseyn Khudiyev joined Mangione in winning bronze after losing to Ebrahimi in the semi-finals.

Women’s -42kg
Iran’s second gold medal of the day came courtesy of Houshmand. A high-scoring first round went
17-9 in her favour, and she dominated Yang in the second round to force her way into a 15-3 lead
which gave her victory by technical superiority and crowned her junior world champion.
Houshmand was equally impressive in the earlier stages of the competition, and did not drop a
round on her way to gold. That included a high-scoring victory against Individual Neutral Athlete
(AIN) Elina Tkhamokova in the semi-finals. On the other side of the draw, Yang prevailed in three
rounds against Uzbekistan’s Valeriya Khegay in the quarter-finals and India’s Saksham Yadav in the
semi-finals.
Bronze medals in the women’s -42kg went to Tkhamokova and Yadav.
The World Taekwondo Junior Championships concludes tomorrow with competition in the men’s –
59kg and -68kg, and the women’s-55kg.

CHUNCHEON, Korea (KHURRAM SHEHZAD) – The World Taekwondo General Assembly gathered today in
Chuncheon, Korea and approved amendments to the Statutes which will strengthen the
organisation’s governance and enhance the sustainability of the sport.
The changes were approved by the World Taekwondo Council when it met earlier today, and
received the unanimous support of the Member National Associations (MNAs) at the General
Assembly.
They are aimed at creating a more streamlined and efficient World Taekwondo Council, providing
more support to the most active MNAs and increasing autonomy for Continental Unions.
Among the changes, the World Taekwondo Council will be reduced in size by approximately one-
third from 37 to 25 members. There will also be a larger percentage of members elected by the
General Assembly to make the organisation more democratic, with the number appointed by the
President reduced from 10 to two, and expanded pathways for strong-performing elected members.
Five vice-presidential roles will be filled by three elected members, one appointed member and the
female Council member with the highest proportion of the electoral vote. This marks a shift from the
current eight Vice-Presidents, of whom five are Continental Union Presidents holding the role on an
ex-officio basis, two are appointed and one is the highest voted female Council member.
The changes will see 14 Council members elected by the General Assembly, with a minimum of one
male and one female per continent, and one member appointed by the President. This represents a
reduction from 17 elected members and six appointed by the President.
The Athletes’ Committee Co-Chairs remain as Council members. The Secretary General and
Treasurer will maintain their positions on the Council but in a non-voting capacity to reflect their
operational roles, and the Auditor will no longer sit on the Council to increase their independence
and oversight, but will be invited to meetings.
A new Level III category has additionally been created for MNAs who have remained at Level II for at
least four consecutive years. This provides a faster pathway to replace dormant MNAs with more
active organisations where necessary.
World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue hailed the changes to the Statutes.
“The Statutes amendments represent our, and my personal, determination to be more sustainable
as a sport and as an Olympic and Paralympic International Federation. The amendments were
discussed extensively not just within the Taekwondo family, but also with Olympic IFs that are
ranked A1 in the most recent ASOIF Governance Review,” President Choue explained.
“The amendments represent my determination to change rather than be changed. As you may have
noticed, I am giving up some of the appointment powers vested in the President to help to make the
organisation more democratic and streamlined for efficiency.
“The changes approved today demonstrate World Taekwondo’s commitment to good governance
and making our sport more sustainable across all areas, and I am confident they will benefit the
global Taekwondo Family in the years ahead.”

President Choue also announced he intends to run for a final term as World Taekwondo President at
next year’s elective General Assembly in Wuxi, China.
The World Taekwondo General Assembly paid tribute to former World Taekwondo Vice-President
Grandmaster Soo-Nam Park and former World Taekwondo Council member Grandmaster René
Bundeli with a moment of silence, following their passings earlier this year.
MNAs approved the 2023-2024 Operation and Finance reports, and heard reports on the Olympic
Games and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, the Ad-Hoc Competition Rule Review Committee for the
Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, the first review of MNA Governance and Performance and the
World Taekwondo Global Integrity Unit.
In the first review of MNA Governance and Performance, MNAs were assessed based on criteria of
governance, participation, performance, events and sustainability to compile a full report. The top
five ranking MNAs were USA, Korea, Italy, France and Great Britain.
World Taekwondo Secretary General Jeongkang Seo also had his term extended by a further two
years, effective from October 6.
After the General Assembly, the Opening Ceremony of the Chuncheon 2024 World Taekwondo
Junior Championships took place at the Songam Sports Town Air Dome where IOC Member Ser
Miang Ng attended. It featured a spectacular performance by the World Taekwondo Demonstration
Team, and generated further excitement for the beginning of competition tomorrow.

SEOUL, Korea : World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue today
awarded the International University Sports Federation (FISU) President Mr Leonz Eder an
honorary 8th Dan certificate in recognition of his unwavering support for Taekwondo in
university sports.
The presentation took place during President Eder’s visit to the World Taekwondo HQ in
Seoul, Korea.
World Taekwondo and FISU have long enjoyed a fruitful relationship. Taekwondo debuted
at the FISU World University Games as an optional sport at Daegu 2003, following a decision
of the FISU Executive Committee at its meeting in Beijing in July 2000. It also appeared at
the following four editions as an optional sport.
Ties between World Taekwondo and FISU were further strengthened in November 2009,
when the FISU Executive Committee voted at a meeting in Erzurum for Taekwondo to
become a compulsory sport at the FISU World University Games, effective from Taipei 2017.
Taekwondo has remained part of the official programme ever since thanks to the ongoing
close collaboration between both organisations.
President Choue hailed the strength of World Taekwondo’s relationship with FISU.
“I am very happy to present an honorary black belt to President Erder in recognition of his
outstanding contribution to Taekwondo. World Taekwondo and FISU have enjoyed a strong
relationship for many decades. We look forward to building on this relationship in the years
ahead.” President Choue said.
President Eder commented: “It is an honor to receive an honorary Taekwondo black belt.
Taekwondo is a very important sport for FISU. FISU will continue to cooperate closely with
World Taekwondo and ensure as many students as possible benefit from this great sport.”
He added that Para Taekwondo would be included in the 2027 Chungcheong Summer World
University Games.
In attendance at the ceremony were Mr. Eric Saintrond, FISU Secretary General, Dr. Kim
Chong-Yang, chairman of the board of trusteeds of Hanyang University, Dr. You Byung-Jin,
president of Myongji University, Dr. Chang Hosung, Executive Committee Member of FISU
and chairman of the Board of Dankook University, Dr. Russell Ahn, FISU Taekwondo
Technical Committee Chair and Mr. Jung Kook-hyun, World Taekwondo Council Members,
Mr. Jeongkang Seo, World Taekwondo Secretary General.
Following today’s award ceremony, President Eder will attend Opening Ceremony of the
Daegu 2024 World University Taekwondo Festival tomorrow.
The Festival at Keimyung University Seongseo Campus includes two days of Kyorugi
competition tomorrow and on Saturday (July 7), followed by Poomsae events on Sunday
(July 7).