Mr Kris Wiluan, President of ASEAN Taekwondo Federation (ATF) and Patron of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF), has great plans for taekwondo in the ASEAN region.
His idea includes the recruitment of a Korean Taekwondo Coach. The coach would be based at Citramas in Batam, about 5 to 10 minutes from Nongsa Ferry Terminal. The terminal is about half hour by ferry from Singapore Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.
Among other things, the primary function of the Korean coach is to train coaches in the region. Mr Wiluan believes that the taekwondo standard in the region will invariably improve with better quality coaches. The STF would also be involved in the selection of the coach.
The Citramas taekwondo training facilities would be activated soon with the co-operation of the STF. The centre is also an ideal place for clubs in the ASEAN region to organize training camps.
To translate his idea into reality, Mr Wiluan called for a meeting of officials on 12 October 2008 at Turi Beach Resort. Mr Kris Wiluan, Pak Burhan, Mr Reggy Djakarya, Mr Milan Kwee (STF President) and Mr Lim Teong Chin (ATF Secretary-General and STF GM) attended the historic meeting.
Mr Kwee and Mr Lim will be in Korea at the end of the month to attend several meetings with officials of the World Taekwondo Federation, the Asian Taekwondo Union and Kukkiwon. During the visit they will scout for a suitable coach.
It looks like a beginning of an exciting time for taekwondo in the region.