TKU Taekwondo Team has been selected as the R.O.C reprehensive team in World Collegiate Taekwondo Championships, held in Kemyung University, Korea, from July 6 to 12. After a fierce competition among the 13 teams from 10 countries, they have won 2 Gold, 7 Silver, and 5 Bronze Individual Medals, and a World Second Place group title.

The 13 teams include Chinese Taipei, USA, Russian, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, P.R.O.C, South Korea, New Zealand, Canada, Philippine. The championship consists of Group Combat Duel, High-jump Kick, Flying Sidekick, Continuing Back Swirl Kick. Wang Yuan-sheng, TKU couch, remarks that “the result is better than what we expect, but it is also a payback for the day and night practices of the teammates.” Wang observes that all the teammates practice for the championship twice a day, one at dawn, and the other at dusk. Sometime, they tried so hard even to hurt their bones when their kick missed the target.

TKU Taekwondo Team has honorable history, such as the Silver Medals for National Martial Arts Championship in 2003, 2004, and the Gold Medal in 2005. On May 19 and 20, they won the Gold Medal again in the B group of the 2007 National Collegiate Taekwondo Tournament, and won the chance to represent our country to join the world championships.

Lee Chang-chao, a sophomore of Dept. of Aerospace Engineering, winner of a Gold Medal in Flying Sidekick and a Silver Medal in 62 KG Duel, remarks that the family-like warmth and encouragement among the teammates are the major source of their achievement. Lin Wei-chun, a junior of Dept. Insurance, winner of a Silver Medal in Flying Sidekick, beat his American foe in 30 seconds in the Duel. Lin recalls joyfully that “it would be my unforgettable moment in the college life.”

Hung Chun-peng, a senior of Dept. of Information and Communication, one of the teammates, expresses his excitement to witness excellent performances of various teams in Korea, the original place of Taekwondo. Team leader, Kao Chen-yao, sophomore of Dept. of Computer Science and Information Engineering, adds that “we appreciate couch Lo Wen-shiang for his effort to search for fund for the trip.” Couch Wang Yuan-sheng indicates his appreciation for the support and assistance of various organization, and he also emphasizes that the TKU team will work hard and win honor for our country in the championships next year. ( ~Chen Chi-szu )