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29 March 2024

Fujairah to stage Arab Junior Taekwondo Championships

The participants at the Poomsae International Referees Seminar held at Concord Hotel in Fujairah. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Staff

The UAE Taekwondo and Karate Association in cooperation with Fujairah Boxing and Taekwondo Club is set to host the Arab Junior (Under-17) Taekwondo Championship from February 20 to 22 under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the Crown Prince of Fujairah.

It will be held at Merbeh Stadium and will bring together top juniors from Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Iraq, Yemen, Kuwait, Palestine, Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, Tunisia, Algeria and hosts UAE. Saudi Arabia and Sudan declined participation.

The UAE is participating in both the boys and girls categories.

This was announced at a press conference held earlier by Nasser Abdul Razzaq Al Marzouqi, President of the UAE Taekwondo and Karate Association (UAETKA), Duaij Al Raissi,  Vice-President UAETKA, Fakhruddin Abdul Majid, Secretary of the association, Eid Fairuz Al Mesmari, the Championship's manager and Mohammad Isaac general coordinator of the championship at the Fujairah Concord Hotel.

Al Marzouqi said this championship will accomplish a lot of goals, such as contribute to the promotion of the sport in Fujairah, and improving the level of the national taekwondo team through creating opportunities for international exposure.

"Fujairah is no stranger to such championships," said Al Marzouqi. "It has organised many championships and tournaments in the past because of the support of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammad Al Sharqi the Ruler of Fujairah and his Crown Prince and their commitment to sports."

The Crown Prince of Fujairah has given directives to honour the best Arab male and female Taekwondo players who have retired and have achieved success internationally. He also gave directives to honour the best former Arab judge in coordination with the Arabic Taekwondo Federation.

"The head of the competition committee in the World Taekwondo Federation, Philip Bodo was invited to evaluate the standard of taekwondo in the UAE and the championship's organisation," said Al Raissi.

He added that the championship will be refereed by 20 of the best international Arab referees headed by Moroccan referee Yousif bin Ali. There will be three international Emirati referees participating in the championship: Khalid Khalfan Al Miqbali, Rashid Faraj Al Alili and Zayed Khalifa Al Suwaidi.

The Championship's manager, Al Mesmari, expressed his happiness about organising this championship in the UAE and especially in Fujairah. He thanked the Crown Prince of Fujairah, for paying all the costs of the Palestinian participants in the championship and for his constant interest and support for the sport of taekwondo.

Isaac, the general coordinator of the championship, said this will be the first time in the UAE and Arab championship where the latest electronic equipments (Daedo System) will be used. Daedo is a chest protection gear for the players and it keeps scores electronically. Review of action will also be used during matches to help referees.

Meanwhile, the organising committee of the championship successfully completed the Poomsae International Referees Seminar at Concord Hotel in Fujairah with the participation of 150 referees.

It's aim is to improve the level of local referees, especially UAE nationals, and help them reach international level.

K. Kim, Secretary of the International Referees Committee, Kim Kyung-Chan Vice-President of the Poomsae Committee of the World Taekwondo Federation and Ku Min Juan organised lectures and workshops for the participants at the Layalina Ballroom. It was attended by Nasser Abdul Razzaq Al Marzouqi, President of the UAE Taekwondo and Karate Association and other members of the association.

During the four-day seminar, referees were trained on the use of electronic devices, in keeping with the improvements developed by the World Taekwondo Federation.

A second training seminar for 81 international referees started on Wednesday and will continue until Friday.