Get set for tournament action, as Haktari Taekwondo hosts the Blue Mountains Taekwondo Championships for a 28th year.
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The event will be held in the Lithgow Ballroom at Tony Luchetti Showground on Sunday, June 16. The action will kick off at 9am, with the juniors contesting the competition in the morning and more experienced fighters taking to the floor in the afternoon.
Head instructor at Haktari Taekwondo Academy and tournament director for the Blue Mountains championships Jeff Crane said 161 fighters were registered to take part in the event.
"There will be a very strong team coming from the ACT to take part," Crane said.
There will also be representatives coming from all across Sydney, including a strong team from Castle Hill.
The youngest competitors on the day will be eight years and the oldest expected to be 36. Weights will range from 18kg-118kg. Divisions are worked out on age, rank and weight, with boys and girls fighting separately.
Each division will be fighting for gold and silver medals on the day.
Haktari's own team will include ten fighters, eight juniors and two adults.
Crane said there was plenty of talent in the team, including black belt Alexis Reid and 10-year-old two time national champion Jorja Pender.
"In a height-related game, she's got the perfect build for it, with really long legs [for kicking]," Crane said of Pender.
The Lithgow team was expected to perform well.
"We've got a pretty good bunch here, and they try very hard," Crane said.
"They put in a lot of work."
They are also committed to travel to build up their experience. At their last competition at the Sydney Taekwondo Festival, a team of five Haktari fighters won five gold, two silver and one bronze medal between them.
"I encourage them to go up a division if they can, to get that extra experience, and an extra fight." Crane said.
Now that Taekwondo was an Olympic sport, Crane said fighters were always working towards that ultimate dream for most competitors of competing at that elite level.
The Blue Mountains Taekwondo Championships on Sunday will include a little touch of Olympic flair, featuring the same scoring system that is used at the Olympic Games.
The Daedo scoring system uses electronic sensors in helmets and chest guards to register points automatically.
The event is open to the public, with tickets available at $10 for adults and $25 for a family of four. All are welcome to attend.
Haktari thanked its supporters, Lithgow Workmen's Club, Springvale Lodge, Sunnyridge Meats, Sunshine Bakery, William and Sons Butchery, Zig Zag Motel, CW Printing and Lithgow Technology Services for their assistance.
Kirsty Horton
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
