Taekwondo Tigers in danger of missing Jr Pan Am

However financial constraints due to ongoing administrative issues threaten the club’s chances of participating in this year’s Junior Pan American Taekwondo Championships in Costa Rica.

Newsday spoke to the club’s founder and head coach, Collin Mofford, who said that while TT has what it takes to produce Olympic quality athletes, issues of scarce resources and minimal funding prevent athletes from reaching their full potential.

“It’s sad because we definitely have the stuff to produce quality athletes who can shine at the Pan American Games, the Commonwealth Games, the Olympics etcetera, but as of late, the club has encountered difficulty in getting the requisite cash due to several internal issues.” Mofford added that a win at the Pan American Junior Championships could spell good news for athletes hoping to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.

He said that the tournament is an important screening opportunity, as points are distributed to participating countries which can go towards their world ranking and can secure an automatic place at the Olympic Games.

Assistant Instructor and forms athlete Andrew Lee echoed Mofford’s sentiments, noting that various secondary and primary school students have benefitted tremendously from the club’s existence and have even gone on to produce athletes that have represented TT at the Pan American Open.

He added that while winning the tournament does not necessarily guarantee a place at the Olympics, the real prize is in the experience offered to students seeking to hone their skills against world-class competitors.

“It’s a huge experience for younger students being able to improve on their skill and form on a larger scale. It can really go a long way as far as getting more persons involved in the sport and what we have to offer.” Despite the challenge of funding, club members remain optimistic that they will be able to not only make it to the competition but lead the way for taekwondo in TT.

The tournament, which runs from August 29 to the 31 in San Jose, Costa Rica, is expected to feature over 20 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean.

The competition grades skills based on sparring and the poomsae (forms).

Persons interested in assisting the club are asked to contact Collin Mofford at 398-4010.