Three 1st class national referees, Tan Kok Heng, Tan Kok Seng and Michael Ho Kee Khoon, went to Gold Coast, Australia from 13 to 16 September 2011 to attend the 67th International Referee Course conducted by the World Taekwondo Federation.
After three days of training, they went through theory and practical tests. With years of experience as local referees, they had no problem with the assessments. However, they were not sure what the outcome would be.
Just like many students anxiously waiting for their important examination results, they were on tenterhooks. They were relieved of their anxiety yesterday. All of them qualified as international referees and were on cloud nine.
They certainly have the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) to thank as it fully sponsored their trip, training and test.
With three new international referees, the STF has 13 international referees including Steven Soh who is a first-class international referee.
The Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) will be conducting open selection trials for the 16th Asian Cities Gold Cup Taekwondo Championships which will be held from 3 to 5 February 2012, Hong Kong, China.
The selection (kyorugi only) details are as follows.
Date : Sunday 27 November 2011
Venue : STF National Training Centre
Block 80 Lorong Limau
#04-191
Singapore 320080
Time : Weigh-in – 12.00pm
Trial – 1.00pm
All affiliates are invited to participate in the open trials.
Participants must be SINGAPORE CITIZENS and members of affiliates of the STF.
Please fill in the attached form and submit it to the Secretariat by Wednesday 23 November 2011. We reserve the right not to accept late submission. There is no limit to the number of players you can field.
Registered players for the trials are to report at the STF National Training Centre by 12.00pm for weigh-in. Players shall be considered for the category based on their actual weight on that day of the weigh-in and not according to the weight submitted in the form as we do not want to disqualify any players. No weight allowance will be given.
Shortlisted players will be required to fulfill the training requirements averaging 12 hours per week to qualify for the final selection which is scheduled to be held in January 2012.
The panel of selectors will comprise any 3 of the following senior technical members.
– Mr Lim Teong Chin
– Mr Steven Soh
– Mr Chin Khee Shin
– Mr RA Jeyaraman
– Mr Lee Thiam Poh
– Mr Tan Kok Heng
The selection trial registration and player’s undertaking forms are attached. The player’s undertaking forms must be signed by parents for players under the age of 21 years old. Players will not be allowed to participate in the trials if they do not comply with the administrative requirements.
The trials would be open for observation by participants and their accompanying coaches only. Names of accompanying coaches must be submitted together with the registration forms.
Taekwondo was officially accepted in the school sports calendar last year. This year saw the overall best boy award going to a taekwondo exponent. It was indeed a special recognition for the sport and the efforts of the winner – Kang Rui Jie.
Rui Jie beat 21 other very strong contenders from the other sports including sailing, swimming and table tennis for the distinction. He received the award from Brigadier-General Lim Teck Yin, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Sports at a ceremony held on 28 September 2011 at Nanyang Polytechnic Auditorium.
His citations read as follows.
“Kang Rui Jie has benefited tremendously from his passion and commitment to taekwondo which he started learning at the tender age of 10. He was awarded his poom belt (junior black belt) at the age of 12. The more he achieved in the arena, the harder he trained to challenge himself. Even as his schedule became more hectic, Rui Jie took pains to manage his time and studies well.
In the local scene, Rui Jie has won the National Taekwondo Poomsae Championships and National Inter-School Taekwondo Championships Individual Gold in 2010 and 2011.
In the 3rd Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships 2011, Rui Jie won the individual silver medal as well as the gold medal in the team category. At the 10th ASEAN Taekwondo Championships 2011, he won a pair bronze and was placed 5th in the individual category.
Despite being barely 16 years of age, Rui Jie is getting ready to contribute back to his beloved sport. He is a qualified Poomsae Coach (Level 1), National Poomsae and Kyorugi Referee (Class 3P) and has been accredited with the National Coaching Accreditation Programme (Level 1 – Technical).
He is our champion and he truly deserves to be awarded the Overall Best Sports Boy Award.”
Joining Rui Jie at the awards ceremony was Chelsea Ann Sim Shu Zhen who won the Best Sports Girl Award for taekwondo. She was one of the candidates for the Best Sports Girl Award but had to concede to a better athlete, Rachel Lee Qing from sailing.
Two other taekwondo athletes were also recognized. Tio Jia Xin and Ong Jin Cong Keith were awarded national colors. Both of them had won the awards twice. Jia Xin won the Best Sports Girl Award for taekwondo last year.
Mr Milan Kwee, STF President, was present to witness and congratulate the award recipients from taekwondo.
The Singapore Taekwondo Federation would like to place on record its appreciation to the Singapore School Sports Council Colors Committee for the honor accorded to taekwondo athletes.
Grandmaster Kim Bok Man, the Singapore’s first Korean taekwondo instructor, paid a courtesy visit to the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) Secretariat on 19 September 2011. In 1962, as a 5th dan black belt, he introduced Singaporeans to the amazing art of taekwondo with a spectacular demonstration of high-flying kicks and punches.
Taekwondo took roots in Singapore after the breathtaking performance.
Grandmaster Kim was welcomed by Mr Milan Kwee, STF President, who briefed him on the development of taekwondo in Singapore.
Mr Kwee told him that ‘the seed planted by Grandmaster Kim has grown into a big tree.”
Grandmaster Kim was visibly pleased with the development of his ‘baby’ and reminisced about his time in Singapore including the numerous performances. He also spoke fervently of the demonstration he gave at the now demolished Gay World Stadium. He could remember vividly the challenges he had promoting taekwondo in the early days.
After the meeting, Mr Kwee hosted a lunch for Grandmaster Kim and his entourage including his assistants, Mr Brad Shipp and Mr Simon Lee.
Edgefield Secondary School will be holding its first inter-class taekwondo championships, involving more than 300 students, on Thursday 17 November 2011 from 9.00am to 4.30pm.
Poomsae referees and volunteers are wanted. Those who can assist in the event are requested to contact Ms Ng Lee Noi at 97677179 on or before 28 October 2011.
Meals and refreshments will be provided.
As the event is sanctioned by the Singapore Taekwondo Federation, poomsae referees’ contribution will be considered for their promotion. Volunteers will be given letters from the STF for their CIP, if required.
The following national referees, who have satisfied the criteria for promotion, have been upgraded.
Kyorugi
Class 3P to 3
Ronald Lim Yu Qin
Tay Xiong Sheng
Bernard Zhang Jinbang
Cliton Ng
Leong Zu Zhen
Ng Jun Qiang
Tan Shi Ying
Tang Jia Jie
Class 3 to 2
Maung Soe Myunt Zaw
Poomsae
Class 3P to 3
Sim Hui Shan
All national referees, who are eligible for promotion, are encouraged to submit their applications. The application form is available at the Secretariat.
Clubs organizing supplementary grading are now required to have a qualified first responder (local term: first-aider) and a first-aid kit on standby to enhance the safety of the exercise.
The examiner will not conduct the grading without the presence of the first responder and the availability of the first-aid kit.
This new requirement will take effect immediately. Clubs with problems may contact Mr Tan Kok Heng, the Welfare Chairman, at 9489 4402. He will make the necessary arrangement to run courses to qualify members as first responders and secure first-aid kits at special rate.
Grading for Schools
Ministry of Education schools applying for supplementary grading must have at least 50 candidates. Otherwise, a transport fee of $60 payable to the Singapore Taekwondo Federation will be charged.
Mr Jeong Kook-Hyun, Olympics and four-time World Champion, will be in Singapore on 22 and 23 October to conduct a sparring seminar for black belts at the invitation of Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF).
It took the STF many years to finally convince Mr Jeong to take time off from his tight schedule to share his vast knowledge and experience.
He will teach participants sparring techniques and tactics culled from his long experience as a ‘fighter’ and coach. On top of that, he will impart special techniques which he has developed and perfected.
There will also be ample photo-taking opportunity with the legend of taekwondo.
The details are as follows:
Date : 22 October 2011 (Saturday) OR 23 October 2011 (Sunday)
Time : 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Place : National Training Centre
Dress Code : ‘Dobok’
Fee (per session) : $50.00 (by 5 October 2011)
$60.00 (after 5 October 2011)
$80.00 (after 12 October 2011)
$100.00 (after 19 October 2011)
Register early to benefit from the special rates. The registration form is attached.
The 38th National Kyorugi Taekwondo Championships was held on 3, 4, 10 and 11 September 2011 at Toa Payoh Sports Hall.
The event, which was a resounding success, was smoothly and safely conducted. It attracted more than 800 participants from 42 affiliates.
The Singapore Taekwondo Federation would like to put on record its thanks and appreciations to all club leaders, coaches, officials, parents and participants for their co-operation and support.
