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Tura, Nov 1, 2025:
The 2nd West Garo Hills Inter-Club Taekwondo Kyorugi Championship 2025 commenced with great enthusiasm at the Indoor Sports Hall, Tura, on Friday. The two-day championship is being organised by the West Garo Hills Taekwondo Association (WGHTA) in collaboration with the District Sports Office, Tura, and the Meghalaya Taekwondo Association (MTA), and will conclude with the final bouts on Saturday, November 1.

The inaugural function was graced by Saljagring M. Marak, District Sports Officer, West Garo Hills, along with Salvious P. Marak, President, and Sanang G. Momin, General Secretary of the WGHTA. The event also witnessed the presence of parents, coaches, and well-wishers who gathered to encourage the young athletes.

A total of 183 athletes, aged between 7 and 17 years, representing 12 Taekwondo clubs from across the district, are participating in the championship. The competition is being held in three categories — Sub-Junior (7–11 years), Cadet (12–14 years), and Junior (15–17 years) — for both boys and girls across various weight divisions ranging from under 18 kg to under 59 kg. The matches are being officiated by 15 trained referees, including two officials from Shillong.

Highlighting the objective of the championship, the WGHTA stated that the event aims to nurture and promote young Taekwondo talents by providing them with a platform for competitive exposure and growth.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanang G. Momin, General Secretary of WGHTA, informed that selection trials have already been conducted, and the best-performing athletes from this tournament will advance to the state-level championship in Shillong. The top contenders from there will go on to represent Meghalaya in the forthcoming National Games.
He also shared that the Meghalaya Taekwondo Association is working on the plan of bringing an experienced coach from Korea to train the state athletes as part of the preparation for the National Games.

Expressing satisfaction over the growing participation in the sport, Momin remarked, “We have witnessed a steady rise in the number of participants — from 164 in the previous edition to 183 this year. We are also encouraging more schools to introduce Taekwondo in their curriculum to promote fitness, discipline, and self-defence among students.”

He further informed that the association is planning to host a major championship in memory of Late Eugene K. Marak, who played a pioneering role in introducing Taekwondo to the Garo Hills region, in collaboration with the Meghalaya Taekwondo Association.

The opening day of the championship featured a series of intense and energetic Kyorugi bouts, where young athletes demonstrated their agility, skill, and sportsmanship. The event showcased the practical application of Taekwondo techniques learned in Poomsae, transforming training into spirited, rule-based competition that reflected both discipline and determination.