In the past few months, we've experienced a series of exhilarating events. It was an absolute delight to be part of Australia's National Team in Baku for the Senior World Championship. Witnessing Leon Sejranvoic's achievement of securing a Bronze medal for Australia was truly momentous.
This marked a significant milestone as it was our first able-bodied medal at the World Championships since Carmen Marton's gold in 2013, and Leon became the first male able-bodied athlete to win a medal since Daniel Jukic in 2005.
Subsequently, the excitement continued as Liam Sweeney showcased his talent and determination by winning silver at the Luxembourg Open just days later. The final was a close contest, and Liam's exceptional performance demonstrated the incredible potential of our next generation on the global stage.
Recently, we had the pleasure of hosting our fellow MNAs in Australia for the Oceania Open Championship, WT President's Cup (Oceania), and the Australian Open. The three-day competition proved to be a resounding success, and I extend my gratitude to all the athletes, coaches, referees, and judges for their wholehearted support and participation.
Additionally, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the remarkable efforts of our event volunteers, who generously dedicated their time to ensure the smooth running of the event. Together with the work of Australian Taekwondo’s executive team, I thank you all for your invaluable contributions.
The upcoming World Taekwondo Cadet Championships are scheduled to take place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from August 28 to August 31. I extend my best wishes to our talented young team, who are set to participate and shine.
The team will be guided by Olympic gold medallist Dongmin Cha who has been appointed as Australian Cadet National Coach as part of his role in delivering a bilateral coach/athlete development partnership between Kukkiwon, the Korean Embassy and Australian Taekwondo.
Adding to the coaching group is Jerry Moraitis (Halls Taekwondo), Ruth Hock (Adelaide Taekwondo Academy) and Abby Sangalang (Taya Taekwondo), plus Team Manager Sara Vuong (Revolution TKD & BJJ), who will provide valuable support to the team throughout their journey. I wish all those travelling a safe trip and an unforgettable experience.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you all once again for your unwavering support of Australian Taekwondo. Your passion and dedication contribute significantly to the growth and success of our sport and martial art. Together, we continue to make strides in Taekwondo, and I look forward to the future with great optimism. Thank you for being an integral part of this wonderful journey.
Kind regards,
Jean Kfoury
President - Australian Taekwondo
It has been an action-packed start to 2024 for the Australian Taekwondo National Performance Pathways program and the tangible outcomes already appear promising.
Athletes kicked off the year in full force with a four-day training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Combat Centre – a multi-sport Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Canberra.
At the age of six, Amy Tierney – now the Owner and Head Instructor at Tierney’s Taekwondo Academy in NSW – discovered Taekwondo through a lucky break. Originally from Ingleburn in the south-west of Sydney, Tierney attempted to take up boxing at nearby Campbelltown PCYC, only to be told by an instructor that “girls don’t box”.
International Taekwondo events are set to return to Brisbane in 2024, with the World Taekwondo President's Cup (Oceania) and the Australian Open confirmed for September 18-22 at Nissan Arena. Open to the world's top black belts, athletes from World Taekwondo's 212 Member National Associations are invited to attend.
