11th International Open Friendship Taekwondo Championship Event Organized in Portland

Dr Rabin Man Shakya and Rajendra Gyawali

In what appeared  to be an amazing achievement, the UK taekwondo team led by Master Rastra Rai has, for the second consecutive time, become able to occupy the number one slot by bagging 12 gold medals at the 11th International Open Friendship Taekwondo Championships (IOFTC) held here at the International Convention Center in Portland, Oregon Saturday.

Prior to that, the UK team was also able to occupy the numero uno ranking at the 10th IOFTC games held in London in 2014.

Likewise, the Hong Kong team and Sri Lanka team have been able to occupy the second and third places at the IOFTC events.

Shirish Gurung, Jitiram Rai and Angela Lingden bagged two gold medals each and Prashant Rai, Sindhiya Rai, Mona Ale, Simon Ale, Resham Rai and Aayush Gurung of the Great Britain team won one gold medal each at the 11th IOFTC event.

Similarly, a father and a son from Hong Kong, Dil Paluwa and Bidip Paluwa, have maintained an interesting record by bagging one gold each at the event.

Member Secretary of the National Sports Council of Nepal Mr Keshab Kumar Bista gave away the cups and certificates to the winning teams amid a gala ceremony yesterday in Portland.

In one of the open contests, the match between Binay Karki and Shirish Gurung was very interesting and competitive.

Fourteen year old Nepali boy Binay Karki from Austria prevailed over eighteen year old taekwondo player from Hong Kong on the basis of excellence.

While Binay from Austria was declared the best male taekwondo performer, Alina Wenson from the US was announced the best female taekwondo player, whereas best trainer award went to K. Gurung from the Great Britain.

Likewise, excellence award for referee went to Dinesh Shrestha from Nepal.

In his inaugural remarks, Member Secretary of National Sports Council  (NSC) of Nepal Mr Bista expressed the view that IOFTC has been able to enhance  the standard of taekwondo and promote the taekwondo spirit all over the world.

NSC has full support to the  IOFTC, said Member Secretary Mr Bista adding that Nepal is eagerly waiting for the 12th IOFTC event to be held in Kathmandu.

Taekwondo players from Nepal, the US, the UK, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Austria, Macao, Canada and Qatar had participated at the 11th IOFTC tournaments in Portland.

National Sports Council Member Secretary Bista Arrives in Portland

Rabin Man Shakya
Media Coordinator, 11th IOFTC - Portland, Oregon.

Member Secretary of National Sports Council  (NSC) of Nepal Keshab Kumar Bista arrived in Portland on Saturday, Oct 8, 2016.

Member Secretary Bista was received and greeted at the Portland International Airport by Diwakar Maharjan, director of International Open Friendship Taekwondo Championships (IOFTC), other IOFTC officials and taekwondo players.

Mr Bista is accompanied by his spouse.

"I am satisfied with the ongoing preparations for the 11th IOFTC event", Mr Bista was quoted as saying upon the inspection of the preparation for the 11th IOFTC event.

NSC Member Secretary Bista is scheduled to inaugurate the 11th IOFTC event amid a gala function at the International Convention  Center in Portland, Oregon on Oct 15, 2016.

We are very much encouraged to have Mr Bista  as the chief guest of the IOFTC event, Diwakar Maharjan said after Mr Bista's inspection of the US Westcoast Taekwondo Hollywood School.

The gracious presence of the important personality of the Nepalese sports sector in the 11th IOFTC event has provided a new lease on life of the IOFTC organizers, Maharjan said in a statement released here recently.

Taekwondo players from Nepal, the US, the UK, Canada, Guatemala, Qatar, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, Mexico and Haiti are participating at the 11th IOFTC event.

IOFTC events are playing a tremendous role in internationalizing the taekwondo spirit.

The objective of the IOFTC games are to enhance fraternity and solidarity among the taekwondo players across the world, to promote taekwondo skill and competition among the players.

It is to be noted that IOFTC event is organized once every two years. Last IOFTC event was held in London in 2014.

Prior to that, IOFTC events were also organized in Nepal, the US, Hong Kong and India.

National Sports Council Member Secretary Bista to Open 11th IOFTC Event in Portland

Rabin Man Shakya

Media Coordinator, 11th IOFTC, Portland.

Member Secretary of National Sports Council of Nepal Keshab Kumar Bista  is scheduled to inaugurate the 11th International Open Friendship  Taekondo Championship  (IOFTC) and International Cultural Festival amid a gala function at International Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on Oct 15, 2016.

Meanwhile, intensive preparations are underway for successful organizing of the 11th International Open Friendship Taekwondo Championship to be hosted by IOFTC headquarters. 107 volunteers are being mobilized for the event. Likewise, 28 referees and 11 referee assistants will be involved during the championship events. Similarly, 30 different committees have been set up to facilitate the championship event.

Taekwondo players from Nepal, the US, the UK, Canada, Guatemala, Qatar, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, Macao, Mexico and Haiti are participating at the IOFTC event.

It goes without saying that IOFTC champions the cause of enhancing significance of taekwondo and popularizing it across the world.

It will not be an exaggeration to assert that the IOFTC events are playing  a tremendous role in internationalizing the taekwondo spirit.

The objectives of the IOFTC games are to enhance fraternity and solidarity among the taekwondo players across the world, to promote taekwondo skill and competition among the players.

Going by the history of IOFTC, it was first organized in Kathmandu, Nepal and was inaugurated by His Royal Highness the late Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in December, 2000 AD.

According to IOFTC sources, subsequent championships have been held in Pokhara, Nepal in December 2002, Portland, Oregon in 2004, Hong Kong in 2005, Portland, Oregon in 2006, Kurukshetra, India in 2007, Portland, Oregon in 2008, Kathmandu, Nepal in 2010, Portland, Oregon in 2012, London, the United Kingdom in 2014.

Diwakar Maharjan of the IOFTC says:"This is an excellent opportunity for competitors from throughout the world to develop bonds of friendship and camaraderie that will last a lifetime. The experience gained by participating in these championships can be used to establish milestones for the development of life skills, as well as taekwondo skills."

Throwing light on the IOFTC event, Maharjan went on to say:"As in the past, this event is sanctioned by USA Taekwondo, the national governing body for the Olympic sport of Taekwondo, recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and a member of the Pan-American Taekwondo Union, a WTF Continental Member."

Asked to shed light on the importance of taekwondo, Maharjan said:"The art of taekwondo is most suitable for those children who are active and sporty. It teaches not only how to stay fit and healthy but also moral values which are so important in our life."