World Taekwondo (WT) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. As part of its celebrations, a Golden
Jubilee Gala Dinner was held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 27 May 2023 and Singapore was honoured as
one of the WT’s 17 Founding Members. President Professor Tan Cheng Han, President of Singapore
Taekwondo Federation was present to receive the commemorative plaque.

Indeed, the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) is proud to be part of the global Taekwondo
family which now consist of 213 + 1 members. The Federation is also happy to announce that
following Singapore National Olympic Council’s decision to lift STF’s suspension on 26 January 2023,
WT has officially lifted STF’s suspension at the WT Council Meeting held on 28 May 2023.

During the council meeting, Professor Tan expressed his gratitude to WT President Dr Choue and the
Council for reinstating STF’s membership in WT. Professor Tan emphasised STF’s commitment to
being an engaged and responsible member, and the federation’s eagerness to contribute to WT’s
ongoing success under President Choue’s leadership. Furthermore, Professor Tan highlighted STF’s
plans to strengthen Taekwondo in Singapore through new initiatives, such as working with
individuals with disabilities, disadvantaged children, and senior citizens, in alignment with WT’s
Taekwondo for All programmes to enable many more people to live better through Taekwondo.

Professor Tan and STF would once again like to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for
their support and understanding. The lifting of the suspension was only possible through the
collective efforts of Board members, STF secretariat team, affiliate leaders, examiners, course
conductors, technical officials, referees, volunteers, athletes and practitioners, past and present. STF
would also like to thank the late Dr Tan Eng Liang, Chairman of IMC, members and secretariat of IMC,
SNOC and SportSG for their leadership, guidance and support over this period.

Thank you again for your trust and let us move forward together and further raise the level of
governance and sporting excellence.

The Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) joins the Singapore sporting community in grieving for Dr Tan Eng Liang who passed away on 28 May 2023.

Dr Tan, who was recently conferred an Honorary 5th Dan Black Belt by STF on 16 May 2023, was an exceptional water polo athlete, an Olympian who represented Singapore at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games in water polo as well as a veteran sports administrator and will be sorely missed by the community at large. Dr Tan was most recently the Chairman of the Interim Management Committee from 2019-2023. He had played a pivotal role in the STF’s transformational journey and helped steered the Federation towards better governance and high-performance reforms.

STF President Professor Tan Cheng Han would like to share with our members that “STF owes Dr Tan a big debt of gratitude for his steady guiding hand during the Federation’s lowest point. Thanks to him, STF is a stronger organisation today. The conferment of the Honorary 5th Dan Black Belt to Dr Tan was a small gesture of gratitude to a good man. We will miss him deeply.”

Thank you Dr Tan and you will forever be in our hearts.