Above: Taekwondo star Michael Nguyen won gold at the Victorian Autumn Sparring Open Tournament on Saturday.By Glen Atwell
YUN Jung Taekwondo sent nine athletes to the Victorian Autumn Sparring Open Tournament on Saturday and returned with nine medals.
It’s a strike rate of which to be proud, with the esteemed Springvale academy reaffirming its position as one of the state’s most dominant taekwondo training facilities.
More than 400 athletes contested Saturday’s open tournament and Yun Jung collected six gold and three silver medals.
Michael Nguyen, 11, was one young taekwondo star to win gold after battling his way through a tough division that comprised fighters from across Australia.
The grade six student at Wooranna Park Primary School in Dandenong fights in the 25-28kg division and was thrilled to win the top medal.
“The competition was tough,” he said.
“I really enjoy taekwondo and I am looking forward to the next tournament.”
Michael, who has already captured a national medal in his three-year career, showed amazing fighting ability to win gold on Saturday, according to senior instructor Yoshiko Kera.
“This tournament was open to competitors from all over Australia, so the competition was very tough,” she said.
Kera said as the popularity of taekwondo continued to boom, the skill level required to do well was also on the rise.
“Our juniors have to improve all the time to stay ahead of the competition, but it’s great for the sport to have more competitors,” she said.
More than 100 juniors participate in taekwondo training at Yun Jung Taekwondo, with the youngest four years old.
“It’s a great sport for all ages. Our head instructor Yun Jung Bang accommodates children of any age,” Kera said.
Michael now has his sights set on the Victorian championships in a few months, before focusing on the national championships in Adelaide later this year.
