NORTH CAROLINA--Team St. Maarten won five gold medals, four silver and two bronze at the 2023 Global Open Kukkiwon Cup International Taekwondo Championship in North Carolina.
A total of 1,684 athletes, representing 37 countries participated in the Championship held at the Smithfield Recreation & Aquatics Center in Smithfield. St. Maarten was represnted by Lee – Ann Liu, Rosalia Rique – Lee, Ramsaran Jhavid, and Natram Gunesh from the King Yen Taekwondo school under the guidance of Grand Master Theo Liu. Also accompanying the group was team coordinator Paulien Vuijst. The athletes could compete in breaking, forms called poomsees and sparring. Liu won gold in breaking and silver in forms. Rique – Lee age 11 won gold in breaking and sparring and bronze in forms. Jhavid also age 11 won silver in forms and sparring and bronze in breaking. Thirteen year old Gunesh won gold in breaking and forms and silver in sparring.
“International participation in Taekwondo Tournaments is very important for the growth and knowledge of our athletes,” said the Grand Master. He continued, “This is another once in a life time opportunity and had served as an unforgettable and tremendous experience for the participants.” The opening of the tournament was done by the president of the Kukkiwon, home of World Taekwondo in Korea, Grandmaster Doctor Lee Dong Sup. The opening also included a live demonstartion by the World Korea Taekwondo team. “ We always strive to have our students to compete in the most significant Taekwondo events in the world. Grand Master Liu continued, “We showcase our talented athletes to the World.”
