Organizing a press conference in the capital on Tuesday, Jagan Gurung, the member secretary of the organizing committee and president of the Kaski District Association said that the tournament shall feature around 2000 players from across 20 countries.
“We are organizing this event in Pokhara with the view to revive tourism in the country which has been hard hit by April earthquake,” said Gurung. “Kukkiwon has agreed to host the tournament for the first time outside Korea.” He further added that the tournament, supposed to be held in early 2015, was postponed twice due to the earthquake and the political situation of the country.
The tournament will feature various events in poomsae, gyorgi (sparring) and kyukpa (breaking). An organizing committee has been formed under coordination of Prakash Sumsher Rana, the president of Nepal Taekwondo Associaiton, to run the tournament smoothly.
According to Kwon Young Dal, South Korean taekwondo coach, Kukkiwon has contacted all the countries having Kukkiwon coach for participation in the tournament. Kukkiwon is the global headquarters of taekwondo.
Nepal Taekwondo Association General Secretary Deep Raj Gurung said that the association shall set criteria for participation of Nepali players in the championship.
The expected cost of the event is Rs 15 million, out of which Kukkiwon has promised to bear more than half of the cost. The organizer are planning to meet the remaining expenses through funding from National Sports Council, its own sources and through sponsors and well wishers.
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