S. Selvam
May 16
GOOD sense prevailed, sparing the sport and its practitioners further agony when the Terengganu Taekwondo Association decided yesterday to host the National Junior Championships as scheduled on May 27 to 29.
And for now at least, those who matter most - the children - have been given a reprieve as months of preparations and sacrifices will not go down the drain.
Terengganu Taekwondo Association (TTA) vice-president, Long Abdul Rahman in confirming the tournament will be organised as scheduled, also said that the organisers may re-name the tournament as the MTA have been de-registered.
"We (TTA) will organise the junior championships and it will be held on the same dates which is from May 27 to 29," said Long when contacted yesterday.
"These dates are the most suitable as the second half of the year is normally an examination period in schools.
"As such, there will be no change in the dates."
The MTA's de-registration on May 6 saw a domino effect on taekwondo activities in the country with their chairman Chin Mee Keong announcing the indefinite postponement of the championships three days later.
Mee Keong claimed a directive from Terengganu Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh was the reason for the postponement, a decision that led to several parents appealing to Sports Minister, Datuk Azalina Othman Said to intervene and rescue the meet.
Which Azalina, after discussions with Idris, did last Thursday.
Azalina assured the organisers of the State and ministry's support but reiterated that the final decision to continue with the tournament lies with the organising committee.
And the TTA have reacted in the best possible manner by going ahead with the tournament.
The junior meet has always attracted a huge interest with some 600 to 800 exponents competing in previous editions.
Well, the meet is on, for now. But the future of the sport and its practitioners are still very much in limbo.
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