IMPHAL, Dec 30: BJP legislator and former Manipur Rural Development Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has created history by becoming the first Indian to be awarded the 5th Dan Black Belt in traditional Taekwondo. The honour was conferred by the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation (GTTF) at its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea.

The prestigious 5th Dan certificate was issued by a panel of six Taekwondo Grand Masters led by Jun Lee, President of the Seoul-based GTTF, the apex body governing traditional Taekwondo worldwide. The World Taekwondo Federation, by contrast, regulates the sport form of the discipline.

Khemchand was formally felicitated at the GTTF office in Seoul by the federation’s vice-president, Mayong Suk. He had successfully cleared the Taekwondo promotion test conducted by the federation in October 2024 in accordance with its rules and regulations. However, he could not travel to Seoul earlier to receive the certificate due to the prevailing ethnic unrest in Manipur.

The Sangrok World Taekwondo Academy, which operates under the World Taekwondo Federation and has around 70 branches across the globe, also acknowledged Khemchand’s contribution to the martial art. The academy praised his long-standing dedication and commitment to Taekwondo.

Grand Master Chang Seong Dong, Technical Director of the academy, said Khemchand had played a significant role in spreading Taekwondo across various parts of India and lauded his efforts in promoting the traditional art form.

Now 62, Khemchand began training in Taekwondo at the age of 16. He later became the founder president of the All Assam Taekwondo Association in 1982 and was among the pioneers who introduced and popularised the martial art in Manipur.

During the early 1980s, he emerged as a key figure in the growth of Taekwondo in the country and was instrumental in the formation of the Taekwondo Federation of India, where he subsequently served as vice-president.

(Source: NENEWS)