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)