ISLAMABAD: The three-day Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Pakistan Open International Taekwondo Championship (G-1) kicked off at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad on Saturday evening with an impressive opening ceremony wherein Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fhemida Mirza was the chief guest.
Patron-in-Chief, Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), Lt. Gen (Retd) Javed Iqbal Ramday, Korean Ambassador Suh Sangpyo, Sports Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Raja Nasir, Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Col (Retd) Asif Zaman, President South Asian Taekwondo Federation (SATF), President PTF Col (Retd) Wasim Ahmed and other officials also attended the ceremony.
The diverse cultures of the different areas of the country were presented during the ceremony by the local artists that was applauded by the participants.
Over 550 players, officials, technical referees and judges from different countries are the part of COAS Pakistan Open Taekwondo International Championship 2021. Besides hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan, Albania, Nepal, Jordon, Kazakhstan, Oman, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Morocco, United Arab Emirates (UAE), El-Salvador, Croatia, and WT Refuge Team are in the fray for 16 gold medals.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan such a mega event of Taekwondo was taking place in the country. She said Pakistan Sports Board had provided full facilities to the players.
“It is important to attract youth to sports as it keeps the body and mind healthy.”
“Sports diplomacy is important and efforts will be to promote it,” she said.
The minister said sports were a great source of bringing nations hence sports should be kept away from politics.
The event is being sponsored by Combaxx Sports, Fruit Nation, Go Petroleum, Bank Islami, The Bank of Punjab, Nayyab Labs, Korean Embassy, Islamabad Serena Hotel and Shangrilla Resorts.