Thapa fights back to win gold
MLA Pankaja Munde inaugurates event
Mumbai, November 28: Rahul Thapa from Professional Taekwondo Academy, Sonipat defeated Ajinkya Parab from Swaraj Sports Foundation, Mumbai to win the gold medal in the Senior Kyorugi Male (Fin weight) category of the inaugural Mumbai Consul General Cup National Taekwondo Championship, at the Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi Sports Complex, Dharavi.
The inaugural event is supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Mumbai and organised by KUKKIWON (World Taekwondo Headquarters).
In the first round, Thapa’s opponent, Parab held the upper hand as he had inflicted three kicks to the former’s torso to take his score to 6, while the former’s solitary punch helped to score 1 point. However, Thapa fought back in the final seconds of round with three kicks to his opponent’s torso to decrease the margin to two points and trailed 4-6.
Thapa was constantly trying to break the strong defence of his opponent throughout the second round and finally found an opening to face kick his opponent which pushed him off the mat. This enabled Thapa to take the lead with 5 seconds left on the clock, three points for his lethal attack and one point for the gunjum (where opponent is kicked out of the mat). Thapa thus won his first gold medal in a senior category.
Earlier, a colourful ceremony marked the opening of the Taekwondo Championship, in which over around 800 leading Taekwondo exponents from across the nation were present. The occasion was graced by Mr. Soung-Eun Him, Consule General of the Republic of Korea in Mumbai, and Chief Guest, MLA Pankaja Munde-Palwe, Minister of Rural Development, Women and Child Welfare.
Munde’s own son is taking part in the tournament and hence said, “I’m like any other parent in this tournament as I’m nervous for my son. I think Taekwondo is great for building your body core and even Sachin Tendulkar told my son to continue with it as he practices it himself”.
Both the distinguished guests were honoured with a 6th and 7th dan black belt honorary rank respectively, which was followed by a Taekwondo demonstration from KUKKIWON, World Taekwondo Headquarters.
Other Results – Senior Kyorugi (Male Fin weight) - Rahul Thapa, Sonipat (Gold) bt Ajinkya Parab, Mumbai (Silver) 8-7;
Senior Kyorugi (Male Heavyweight) – Aseemsingh Sodi, Mumbai (Gold) bt Anup Pegu, Mumbai (Silver) 10-6;
Senior Kyorugi (U51 Kg Female) – Durmaya Thapa, Delhi (Gold) bt Khushi Bhati, Delhi (Silver);
Junior Kyorugi (U48 Kg Male) – Deepanshu, Sonipat (Gold) bt Himaghna Baruah, Assam (Silver);
Junior Kyorugi (U51 Kg Male) – Sree Hari, Tamil Nadu (Gold) bt Vikash Jha, Delhi (Silver);
Junior Kyorugi (U37 Female) – Ramani Gajmal, Mumbai (Gold) bt Aditee Maurya, Mumbai (Silver);
Sub Junior Poomsae (Male) – Rajveer Jain, Mumbai (Gold);
Pee Wee Kyurogi(U32 Kg Male) – Aryaveer Jain, Mumbai (Gold).