Music in taekwondo meet to attracts fans
Music in taekwondo meet to attracts fans
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Taekwondo Association (TI)
blended sports event with musical performance and games at the
second LG Cup Taekwondo National Championships in an effort to
popularize the sport more.
The tournament started Thursday and ends on Sunday staging
eight weight classes in both men's and women's division at the
Bung Karno Indoor Tennis Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta.
"We expect to draw more spectators to the championships by
staging musical shows before the evening final sessions," TI
secretary Adrian Lumowa told reporters Thursday.
"The entertainment is also a way to ease the tension between
rivaling participants. We hope to cool down the atmosphere by
staging the games and musical performances."
Taekwondo championships, as well as other martial arts
tournaments, are prone to out-of-the-arena fighting when a team
is not satisfied with the decisions. The Thursday's event staged
well known male rock vocalist Nugie.
The first day of the championships saw participants taking
part in four events: men's -58 kilograms fly, women's -51
kilograms fly, men's +84 kilograms heavy, and women's +72
kilograms heavy weight classes.
East Java contingent collected two golds on the first day of
the event, leaving Jakarta and West Java to earn one gold
each.
Indonesian top taekwondoin Satryo Rahadani of East Java beat
Jimmi Indra W of Jakarta with a score of 4-1 in their too-careful
men's fly final match.
"I had to be careful with Jimmi. I don't want to underestimate
my opponent. Besides, he is also a good fighter," Satryo told
reporters after the final match.
"I'm quite disappointed with my performance here. I lost my
touch."
Satryo's coach, Kim Jeong-sik of South Korea, told reporters
that he was shocked to see Satryo's performance here saying it
was worse than his training in South Korea.
"Satryo lost his touch here. Perhaps because he played
carefully not to injure other opponents. He plays loosely in
Korea. Or because it's the climate difference because it is
winter now in South Korea," he said.
"I have to improve his physical condition as well as his
mentality. He seemed to keep a distance with his opponents here."
In the women's fly final match, Juana Wangsa Putri of Jakarta
defeated her Sydney Olympics sparring partner Rahadewi Neta in a
close fight that ended 7-6.
"I have to admit Kak (older sister) Joan is much better than I
am. I have to train more to catch up," she told reporters.
In the men's heavy final match, Tri Wahyu of East Java won on
technical aggressiveness over Joko Susilo of North Sumatra in a
final match that ended in a 4-4 draw. Meanwhile in the women's
heavy final match, veteran Shanti of West Java outclassed Erna
Rimah of Bengkulu 5-1.
Taekwondoins will compete in the men's -67 kilograms feather,
women's -59 feather, men's -72 kilograms light, and women's -63
kilograms light events on Friday. (nvn)