BUOYED by their positive run at the recent Philippines Sea Games, the national poomsae taekwondo squad are now targeting medals at both the Lebanon Asian Championships (March) and the Denmark World Championships (May) next year.
National poomsae coach Yap Yiih Ting is placing his medal hopes on Jason Loo-Nurul Hidayah Abdul Karim in the mixed pair discipline.
Jason-Nurul bagged gold on their debut as a pair at the Sea Games and have been earmarked as having great potential.
“I believe we have a good chance of winning medals at both championships especially through Jason and Nurul in the mixed pair event as they are in good form at the moment,” said Yiih Ting.
“South Korea, Iran and Taiwan are our main rivals in the mixed pair event at the Asian meet.
“It will be tougher at the world meet, but I believe they can still win a medal.”
Poomsae has not been included in the Tokyo Olympics but is expected to be held as a demonstration sport in the 2024 Paris edition.
Yiih Ting added that the mixed pairing of Yong Jun Kun and Sara Yap, who won silver in the discipline at the 2018 Vietnam Asian meet, will likely be focusing on the individual and men’s team event in Lebanon.
Sara won the women’s individual bronze at last year’s Indonesia Asian Games.
“Sara has been struggling with a hip injury recently, but she is an incredibly tough fighter and is still training despite the pain,” added Yiih Ting.
“Jin Kun could also compete in the individual and men’s team event with Augustine Rudy Grocer and possibly even Chew Wei Yan."
Wei Yan has stated his willingness to return to competitions after announcing his retirement following his individual bronze feat at last year’s world meet in Taiwan. Fadhli Ishak