Dimapur Taekwondo Academy needs more facilities

Many young students are leaving the taekwondo academy here due to lack of proper facilities.

Samson, a young student, pointed out that there was a shortage of proper Takewando kits. He said that there was need for a good indoor stadium where the youngsters can display their talent.

The Dimapur Taekwondo Academy (DTA) Nagaland, which is affiliated with the Dimapur District Taekwondo Association, and the Nagaland Taekwondo Association was formed in 1988 under the chief coach RK Imocha Singh.

Since its inception the academy has been imparting quality training to the students with little equipment and facilities at its disposal.

Students practicing the martial art in the academy have to use steel plates and slippers as substitutes for kicking pads and other equipment.

General secretary, Taekwondo academy Dimapur in Nagaland, Anthony Lotha, said that despite the lack of facilities, players excelled at the sporting events held at the national and international level.

"From day one we have produced many talented sportsperson who have participated in district as well as state. And many students of our academy participated in the national event and got many medals," said Lotha.

At present the academy at Dimapur has 35 students who are being trained in this form of martial art by instructors and coaches.

Members of the academy have also been taking part in regional and national tournament with much zeal but the passion for learning the art is slowly waning due to lack of indoor facility in the academy.

Several students who have passed out from the academy have been recruited by government and private firms in the state.

According to the coaches at the academy, government and private firms are looking to recruit people trained in this art as instructors.

The academy has been able to provide certificates for the students directly from the World Taekwondo Federation Headquarters at Kukkiwon, South Korea, after the completion of their training period.