Taekwondo have been a big part of the life of two of our outstanding athletes, Ms Chelsea Ann Sim and Mr Kang Rui Jie. It will continue be so, to benefit those whose lives they touched. Indeed, they are an inspiration for our young Taekwondo students as role models in their Taekwondo and life journey ahead!

CHELSEA ANN SIM: TAKING TAEKWONDO TO NEW HEIGHTS

Chelsea Ann Sim: Taking taekwondo to new heights | Exclusive (heretoplay.com.sg)

Chelsea won the silver medal at the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar and surpassed it by clinching the SEA Games gold medal – ending Singapore’s 16-year wait for a taekwondo Gold medal at the 28^th SEA Games in Singapore in 2015.  For those who knows Chelsea Ann Sim, her grit, determination and indomitable spirit have seen her achieved podium success through perseverance and a disciplined regime as an elite athlete. 

Not surprisingly, Chelsea Ann Sim was elected as a member of our Athletes Commission by fellow athletes at the Athletes Commission Election on 9 January 2021.   We look toward to her new mentorship role in sharing ideas and helping our aspiring athletes the way she had overcome hers.

KANG RUI JIE: FROM BLACK BELT TO LEATHER BELT

https://www.singaporeolympics.com/no-longer-an-athlete-no-problem/

It was quite a change for Rui Jie, Gold medal winner at the 28^th SEA Games in Singapore in 2015; from a front facing athlete at podium success to playing the role of STF’s Operations Manager since 1 February 2021.

Rui Jie had his first taste of life behind the scene when he played a key role in successfully organising the STF Open Selection Trials 2021 at the Sports Hub, OCBC Arena, Hall 5 over the weekend of 6 March and 7 March 2021.

For those who knows the modest Rui Jie, he will be a steady hand in the Secretariat Office to contribute to STF next stage of growth.

The potential within our fraternity is vast.  Together, with our affiliates, we can build a better tomorrow for our fraternity and groom many more generations of athletes that are the pride of our sport.

We regret to inform members of the passing of Mr. Milan Kwee on 9^th March 2021.  Mr. Milan Kwee has led a full and rich life, and has built a legacy that is now enjoyed by the generations beyond his time. The Federation extends our deepest condolences to Mr. Kwee’s wife, Renee, his children – Gene and Dawn, and their family.

Pioneer Athlete of Singapore Taekwondo

The first Singapore Taekwondo Team reached the global stage in the 1973 World Championships held in Seoul, Korea. Mr. Milan Kwee was a member of that pioneer team, representing Singapore. As an athlete, he brought glory to our little red dot by winning Gold and Silver medals in the first two Asian Taekwondo Championships. After retiring as an athlete, Mr. Milan Kwee served as a sports administrator, working tirelessly to develop the sport in Singapore.

President, Singapore Taekwondo Federation

Mr. Milan Kwee was the President of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) for two terms, with the second period from 2004 to 2018, serving two terms in office. Together with his fellow Board Members and Executive Team, he led the fraternity to greater heights. The National Team, under his leadership, achieved their best medal tally in the 2015 South-east Asian Games (SEA Games) since 1995.

Championing Sports

Apart from his work with Taekwondo, Mr Milan Kwee was also the Vice-President of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), where he supported sports development and championed the national sport agenda. He led Team Singapore as Chef de Mission at the 29^th SEA Games held in Malaysia, where the team delivered its best-ever away Games hauling 57 Gold, 58 Silver and 73 Bronze medals.

Honorary Citizen, Seoul

For his efforts in distribution of Taekwondo widely, Mr. Milan Kwee was awarded the Seoul Honorary Citizenship by Seoul Mayor Won Soon Park in 2016. The Seoul Honorary Citizenship has been awarded since 1958 as a reward and for the friendly relations to non-Koreans who demonstrated their dedication to Seoul in various field and visitors from overseas such as head of countries, first ministers, and diplomatic delegates.

Touching Lives Globally

Since stepping down as President in 2018, Mr. Milan Kwee continued to selflessly contribute to the development of the sport with World Taekwondo, heading the Marketing Committee and served as a member of the Executive Council. Since then, he took an active role, supporting the efforts of World Taekwondo in a wide range of work including refugee support initiatives and advising the transformation of the Indian Taekwondo Federation.

Eulogy From Dr Choue Chung-won, President, World Taekwondo

A memorial altar has been set up at the World Taekwondo’s headquarters in Seoul to honour him.

http://m.worldtaekwondo.org/wtnews/view.html?nid=137968&fbclid=IwAR2a99tNBZHvqWKkciWgC_RhoZ02r4eLFDWkmEkb_7dwvWdNx8qBX2rQD8o

Besides that, Dr Choue would also like to share a few words on our common loss.

“Milan was like a brother to me, and also to many of us in the global Taekwondo family. He was a very loyal friend to us and to World Taekwondo. He was always jovial and encouraged us to live happy lives. It didn’t matter who he spoke to or spent time with; those of us who knew him are honoured to have him as a friend. He will be sorely missed. We already miss him so much.”

Eulogy from Mr Ng Ser Miang, Vice President of the  International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Honorary Chairman of Kukkiwon

Mr Ng Ser Miang wrote on a personal tribute on his facebook account which he has given permission for STF to share on our website.

“Dear friend Milan Kwee, you had lived a life that is full and rich and with a beautiful family you deeply love. Friends from around the world who are sadden by your passing will also celebrate your life and cherished the many great memories. We will remember your passion and dedications and the many contribution to sports and society as Vice President of Singapore National Olympic Council, former President of Singapore Taekwondo Federation and senior member of World Taekowndo leadership. I recall how proud you were traveling the world supporting the efforts of World Taekwondo in different work from supporting refugees to the latest assignment of advising the transformation of the Indian Taekwondo Federation. To me, you were my dive master who introduce me to the joy of diving and opened my eyes to a beautiful world under the sea. We had many unforgetble dive trips on Magic Dragon with Renee, your lovely wife and your pillar of strength. Renee, my dive buddy gave me confidence and helped me to explore the secrets of the depth. To my children when they were small, you were “uncle shell” who brought them beautiful shells from your dives. We will miss the tea, coffee and makan together and the national sports associations will miss the leader who started the chat group to support one another and drive the our national sport agenda. Rest in peace my friend.”

Eulogy from Mr Manuel Monsour del Rosario III, President, ASEAN Taekwondo Federation

It is with deepest sympathies that I offer my condolences on the passing of a dear friend and sports leader, Mr. Milan Kwee.

He was a true gentleman and a sports official who had dedicated  much of his life in the pursuit of excellence in sports and administration. Truly, he has done so much in the propagation of Taekwondo and I will never forget his wisdom and words of encouragement to those who had been around him, including myself.

On behalf of the ASEAN Taekwondo Federation, I offer our condolences and prayers to  the bereaved family and let us remember the memories and times spent with him. May his soul rest in peace.

Eulogy from Mr Kris Wiluan, Patron of Singapore Taekwondo Federation and Chairman, Asian Taekwondo Federation

Yesterday, on 9^th March, we lost one of Taekwondo’s most outstanding leader. There will be many accolades for Milan’s contribution to the sport and for Singapore Taekwondo Federation, which under his leadership, has become an example for sports associations to emulate not only in Singapore but worldwide.

World Taekwondo pays respects to Milan with a memorial altar set up at the World Federation’s headquarters in Seoul. This is indeed a rare and special tribute.

Despite his importance and prominence in Singapore  Sports and in World Taekwondo, Milan remain humble , very friendly and approachable.

I met Milan many years ago when he came back to helm Singapore Taekwondo. We both have great dedication for Taekwondo which at that time was not an Olympic Sport and we have a common vision for Taekwondo to be accepted as an Olympic Sport and to support the effort of Asian Taekwondo Federation to form close cooperation and friendship between all the Taekwondo National federations in Asean, with the common objective to enhance the sport and to attain a medal in the Olympics which was later achieved by Thailand and Vietnam.

Asean Taekwondo Federation have lost not only an important leader, but also a beloved brother, friend and  mentor. Rest in peace my brother, thank you for all your dedication to our sport, thank you for the memorable time we work together in making Taekwondo a premier sport.

Rest in Peace and may our Lord receive you by his side.

Eulogy from Mr Lioe Nam Khiong, Patron of Singapore Taekwondo Federation

I, Lioe Nam Khiong, on behalf of the big family of Universal Taekwondo Indonesia Foundation (Yayasan Universal Taekwondo Indonesia) and Universal Taekwondo Indonesia Professional (UTI Pro) extend our most heartfelt condolences on the passing of our dear friend and colleague Mr. Milan Kwee. Our best prayers and thoughts are with his family and loved ones in this period of mourning.

We are pleased to update that the Federation received strong support from our athletes’ community and Affiliates in registering for the Open Selection Trial 2021 at the close of registration on 26 February 2021.

In the light of the requirement to put in place COVID-19 safe management measures at the selection venue, we have revised the Technical Component of the Open Selection Trial to take place over two days on Saturday, 6 March and Sunday, 7 March 2021.

TECHNICAL COMPONENT 

Below is a summary of the venue & two days program for the Technical Component as follows: 

The Poomsae and Kyorugi bout schedule and reporting time are in Annexes 1 and 2.

Athletes and their coaches are to arrive at the Venue based on the reporting time to register their attendance, comply with Safe Management Measures (“SMM”), weigh-in (for Kyorugi athletes) and prepare themselves for the selection trial. 

Please see Annex 3 for the location of the Sportshub, OCBC Arena.

Other highlights:

Kyorugi

Weigh-in       : To be done at the start of the allocated session.

Assessment :Performance of sparring against selected opponents.

Attire              : STF-approved Dobok (for Kyorugi).

Equipment    : KPNP head gear and chest protector.

The scoring system deployed at the Open Selection Trial is KPNP. 

Athletes are advised to bring their own KPNP e-foot protectors and other protective gear that are compatible with the KPNP system.  This is for your own hygiene purposes and to minimize sharing of equipment.

For equipment provided by STF during the trial (such as body protector, head gear, KPNP e-foot protectors), we will sanitize and clean the equipment after each use.

Poomsae:

Assessment : Performance of basic techniques and stances

Poomsae Attire: STF-approved Dobok or STF-approved Poomsae uniform

Freestyle Poomsae

Assessment : Performance of freestyle poomsae

Attire            : STF-approved Dobok (for Poomsae) or STF-approved Poomsae uniform

Equipment   : Athletes to bring own sound track and sound system (i.e. phone + speakers)

For avoidance of doubt, the attire to be worn at the Open Selection Trial 2021 shall be in accordance with the publication on uniform guidelines in our STF website link below. (https://www.stf.sg/guideline/uniform-guidelines-for-athletes/).

PHYSICAL COMPONENT TRIAL DEFERMENT

As a result of the requirement to complete the Technical Component over two days, the Physical component shall be postponed to Saturday, 13 March 2021.  Further details shall be announced by Wednesday, 10 March 2021, subject to final planning considerations.

PANEL OF SELECTORS (UPDATE)

The panel of selectors shall comprise of 3 members, namely, one member from the senior technical members, together with the Athletes Commission Chairman and the National Coaches of the respective discipline.  The number of selectors may be subject to change on the actual day.

Senior Technical Members

• Mr Steven Soh
• Mr RA Jeyaraman
• Mr Lai Han Seng
• Mr Lee Thiam Poh
• Mr Tan Cheng Hui
• Mr Tan Kok Heng
• Mr S. Sinnathurai

Athletes Commission Chairman

• Mr Poh Tze Chap

COVID-19 SAFE MANAGEMENT MEASURES AT VENUE

In addition, please see the list of COVID-19 requirements that will be implemented for your attention and compliance during the two event days:

1. Each Affiliate sending athletes for the Open Selection Trial is only allowed to have two coaches in attendance. (Please submit the names, contact handphone numbers and last three digit plus alphabet of the NRIC number of the nominated coaches by 5 March 2021, 6.00 PM to opsmgr@stf.org.sg). The names submitted shall be compiled as our nominal roll for taking attendance by our ushers on both 6 March and 7 March 2021. We regret that names not in the nominal roll shall not be allowed entry into OCBC Arena, Hall 5.
2. Only the athletes and the nominated coaches will be allowed entry to the venue based on attendance nominal roll compiled by the STF Secretariat Office.  We apologize that Athletes parents and other relations shall not be allowed entry to the Selection Trial due to venue capacity limit arising from COVID-19 compliance measures currently in place.
3. Athletes, coaches, officials & workforce are required to comply with SMM (ie safeentry, temperature taking etc) at the point of entry to the venue.
4. All attendees are required to wear mask & observe safe distancing measures when at the selection trial. 
5. Once the athlete have completed his/her round of competition, the athlete is required to exit the OCBC Arena expediently after freshening up at the rest room, if required.

Individuals who have taken a swab test prior to the event, who are unwell, on Leave of Absence due to medical condition and Stay-Home Notice shall be declined from participating at the selection trial for the well-being of all participants.

With reference to our announcement on the Open Selection Trial for 2021 published on 19 February 2021, we would appreciate that you send your submission documents to the Secretariat at opsmgr@stf.org.sg by Friday, 26 February 2021, 6.00PM.

Our sincere apology for the typo error in the email address in our announcement of 19 February 2021.