Sport Preview: Taekwondo

Taekwondo at this year’s Sol2023 Pacific Games will take place on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 November at the National Aquatic Centre in Honiara’s Sport City complex.

First introduced at the then 1995 South Pacific Games (SPG) in Papeete, Tahiti, taekwondo has for the past 28 years grown in strength, to class, to becoming very popular not only throughout the region, but especially in Honiara.

Taekwondo will be contested in both men’s and women’s competitions.

The individual competition comprises a total eight weight classes, all in accordance with World Taekwondo (WT) classifications.

The weight classes for women are Under (-46kg), Flyweight (-49kg), Bantam (-53kg), Featherweight (-57kg), Lightweight (-62kg), Welterweight (-67kg), Middleweight (-73kg) and Heavyweight (+73kg).

The weight classes for men are Under (-54kg), Flyweight (-58kg), Bantam (-63kg), Featherweight (-68kg), Lightweight (-74kg), Welterweight (-80kg), Middleweight (-87kg) and Heavyweight (+87kg).

Team competitions will take place after the completion of each category’s individual events, and will run in accordance with the single elimination system.

For the previous two editions of the Pacific Games, Australia has remained a dominant force to be reckoned with, racking up 15 gold medals at Samoa 2019 and nine gold medals at Port Moresby 2015.

Tahiti, who were runners up at Port Moresby 2015 with a total of six gold medals also remains one of the favourites this time around, along with PNG, Samoa and New Caledonia.

Hosts Solomon Islands will also be among the favourites with the backing of the home crowed set to motivate their athletes in competing for glory in each of the events.

All taekwondo practitioners, whether competitors or not, are at all times expected to uphold the five tenets of taekwondo. These are courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.

Speaking to the Pacific Games News Service, Taekwondo Sports Cluster Manager, Genevieve Keleni said: “All preparations are set, the venue is all good to go. Honiara get ready for an exciting Sol2023 taekwondo competition”.

Taekwondo events start at 8am and wrap up at 5pm for the two-day duration of the competition. Tickets are $30 and are available at Our Telekom’s Point Cruz office and at the National Stadium ticketing booth at Sport City.

By Francis Pituvaka, Pacific Games News Service