By Benjamin Akoto
Koforidua, (Eastern), March 30, GNA -The inaugural Chung Do Kwan and Deaf Empowerment Open Taekwondo Championship has ended in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital with 92 hearing-impaired students participating in the contest.
The Chung Do Kwan Ghana Taekwondo in collaboration with the Eastern Regional National Sports Authority organised the event which featured 72 female and 20 male students from Mampong and Koforidua Schools for the Deaf.
They competed in various categories, including basic skills, board breaking ‘Gyeokpa’, forms ‘poomsae’ and sparring ‘Kyorugui’.
At the close of the championship, Christabel Ansah from the Mampong School for the Deaf won two gold medals in the basic female and 65kg divisions, with Harriet Amoah, from the Koforidua School for the Deaf securing gold in the female ‘Kyorugui’ 56kg category.
Leticia Oboh also from the Koforidua School for the Deaf won two gold medals in ‘Gyeokpa’ and ‘Poomsae’ categories.
The male side saw Gerard Bempah Duah winning gold in the 54kg category, Emmanuel Obeng receiving gold in the 58kg division and Gabriel Amoah earning gold in ‘Gyeokpa’ and Collins Kwaku also taking home gold in the ‘Poomsae’ category.
All the winners are from the Koforidua School for Deaf.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) sport on the side-lines of the closing session of the championship in Koforidua, Master Raphael Sylvanus Akoto, the President of Chung Do Kwan Ghana Taekwondo explained that the contest was designed to help build self-confidence of the participants.
He said building oneself confidence remained crucial for enhancing individual motivations, saying that taekwondo was a valuable tool for children’s development.
It offered opportunities for fitness, leadership skills and improved social interactions, thereby supporting their holistic growth in multiple dimensions.
Besides, Master Akoto said the championship was intended to foster emotional responses and behaviours of promoting health, strength, and physical activity, saying it further improved the attentiveness, focus and concentration of the hearing-impaired in building and improving healthy lifestyles too.
GNA
DEN/KOA