A total of 70 participants took part in the first Fiji Police Force Taekwondo Championship, held over the weekend at the Police Mobile Force (PMF).
Among the participants were 20 police officers and 50 children, all eager to learn and gain knowledge of the sport.
The competition was attended by counselor Myong-jun Kim and consul Yun-hye Jung from the Korean Embassy in Suva.
Official Sanghyun Ra expressed his satisfaction with the event, highlighting how it brought adults and children together to learn the sport.
“The goals of the championship were multifaceted, aiming to strengthen the physical and mental strength within the police organisation, establish a healthy leisure culture within the police family community,” said Ra.
He adds also to expand the base of Tae kwon do in Fiji for potential international competitions and enhance cultural and sports cooperation between Korea and Fiji.
Commissioner of Police, Rusiate Tudravu in a statement also emphasised the need for self-defence skills in today’s uncertain times.
“We are now living in uncertain times and learning to protect ourselves is the way forward,” said Tudravu.
He said the competition will equip them with essential self-defence skills, to steer them away from negative influences such as violence and drugs,
He reminded the children that fitness and discipline were associated with Taekwondo, and he acknowledged their efforts in going through the training.
Following the championship, Tae kwon do training will be introduced in the Fiji Police Force, with PMF leading the way by piloting the training for officers.
Once trainers are appropriately trained, they will travel to different divisions to provide training at station levels.
