It's been truly exhilarating to witness the remarkable achievements of our Cadet and Senior athletes on the international stage. The recent performance of our National Cadet Team at the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships in Sarajevo was nothing short of extraordinary. I congratulate Kerim Yilmaz, Leonardo Angell, and Akon Baak for their outstanding medal performances.
These performances were backed up by a further 16 medals at the Bosnia Open, where Australia also came away as second-place overall finishers. Our Senior athletes in Europe continued this winning streak, with Bayley Lewis securing a bronze at the Paris GP and Saffron Tambyrajah, Stacey Hymer, Reba Stewart, and Leon Sejranovic all clinching medals at the Polish Open. I congratulate our dedicated athletes, coaches, and support staff for representing our nation and Australian Taekwondo with unwavering commitment. My sincere appreciation also goes out to those who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare our athletes for these prestigious competitions.
As we head into the last quarter of the year, several exciting events are coming up. First is the Melbourne Kukkiwon Course, which will be running at the end of September. The opportunity to participate in a professional level Kukkiwon course in Australia is rare, and course like this are an excellent opportunity to grow the Master's skill level and experience in Taekwondo. Australian Taekwondo was also pleased to offer our lower Dan level holders this opportunity. Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend the Melbourne Kukkiwon course; however, I'm grateful for the help and support from Hugh Eagling, who has been invaluable in the organisation of the Melbourne course, together with staff from Australian Taekwondo.
Following this, we have the eagerly anticipated Green Carpet Gala, our National Awards night, which will kick off the Australian Taekwondo National Championships. After its resounding success in 2022, this event has earned a permanent spot on our calendar. It's a night dedicated to acknowledging and expressing gratitude to those who contribute significantly to Taekwondo. I encourage your club to reserve a table or secure individual tickets and join us in celebrating your peers and our vibrant community.
The Australian Taekwondo National Championships will bring the curtain down on our domestic events. We are thrilled to see entries already approaching 1,200, a testament to the enthusiasm and dedication of our members. It has been quite some time since we hosted an event in Perth, and we are delighted to witness so many members making the journey across the Nullarbor to support the event and compete.
When we unite and collaborate as one, we propel unity, growth, and development of Taekwondo at all levels. Australian Taekwondo is thriving, and this achievement is a testament to the unwavering support of our clubs and members. Thank you for your continued dedication.
Kind regards,
Jean Kfoury
President - Australian Taekwondo
