The Maldives team that participated in the CGS and the THF Asia International Open Taekwondo Championship held in neighboring Sri Lanka, has bagged several medals.
The neighboring country hosted its first-ever international taekwondo tournament from December 6 – 8, in Colombo.
The Maldives’ team was led by Head Coach of the Maldives Taekwondo Federation Adnane Kanane.
Athletes Fathimath Ibrahim and Samuel Shankar bagged gold at the Poomsae / Kyorugi event of the CGS and the first THF Asia International Open Taekwondo Championship, under the instructions of Coach Kanane.
Fathimath Ibrahim also won silver at the tournament, with a second silver medal won for the team by athlete Mohsen Sabouri.
Further, the team from Maldives brought home four bronze medals, won by athletes Mohamed Saifshaan, Youness bin Guraishy, Haroon Khalid and Hoodh bin Guraishy.
Speaking to RaajjeMV, a determined Coach Kinane stressed that the tournament was not an easy feat, especially as it was the first international participation for some of his athletes and as his team prioritizes safety before everything else.
Kanane however expressed satisfaction with receiving positive feedback from the world taekwondo president who saw what a great job the Maldives did, in such a short period of time.
The tournament was not easy at all specially as it was the first international participation for some of my athletes, and as we know safety comes before everything. Alhamdulilah we came back safe with eight medals from different clubs, from more than seven countries that participated and it was nice to see the world taekwondo president happy to see the great job we did in a very short time as the Maldives taekwondo federation”Adnane Kanane, Head Coach of the Maldives Taekwondo Federation.
The Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation (SLTF) conducted the international taekwondo championship at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. As part of the tournament, the federation is hosting three international taekwondo events and an international conference from December 7 – 12 as well.
With the inclusion of eight South Asian countries, the tournament kicked off with more than 100 officials participating.
Since making its mark at the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG) 2023, by bagging silver and bronze in Taekwondo, Maldivian athletes have been excelling in the sport.
