Taekwondo Canada Names National Team for 2022 World Poomsae Championships
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Ottawa, ON (April 19, 2022) – Taekwondo Canada is pleased to announce the 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships National Team which will be competing in Goyang in the Republic of Korea from April 21st to 24th , 2022. The team has been selected from the 2022 Canadian National Poomsae Championships, which was held virtually February 26th and 27th, 2022.
Despite having to postpone the in-person National Championships originally scheduled in January 2022, Taekwondo Canada was able to re-schedule and successfully host a virtual event that has allowed the entry of the team into the World Taekwondo Championships. The team consists of 29 male and female athletes comprising representatives that span Cadet through to O65 divisions. Master Ri Seong Kang will lead the team as the Head Coach. Supporting Master Kang will be dual role athlete-coaches Master Bhajan Mann and Master Shelley Vettese-Baert.
Head Coach Master Kang shared his thoughts leading up to the competition, “I am honored to serve as the Head Coach for the 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championship. I would like to give my appreciation to Taekwondo Canada, all athletes, families, coaches, and staff for their efforts and support; especially during this challenging time. I believe little things make big things happen, so let’s stay focused and enjoy our journey to the end!”
The team includes 19 medalists from the recent 2022 Pan American Online Poomsae Championships. The full team is listed below:
| Name | Event(s) | Club | Coach |
| AJ Assadian | Freestyle O17 Team U30 Individual Male |
Dynamic Taekwondo | Hyun Seok Seo |
| Alan Van* | Freestyle O17 Team Freestyle U17 Pair |
Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
| Bhajan Mann* | O65 Individual Male | Orangeville Taekwondo | N/A |
| Breanne Folk | U40 Individual Female | Kim’s East Zone Taekwondo | Shelley Vettese Baert |
| Cailin Cooke | Freestyle U17 Team | Orangeville Taekwondo | Bhajan Mann |
| Christine Cho* | Junior Pair Freestyle U17 Pair |
Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
| Claude Champagne* | O65 Individual Female | HLD Taekwondo | Carlos Amezcua |
| Ethan So* | Junior Pair Junior Individual Male |
Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
|
Evan Van |
Freestyle O17 Team | Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
|
Evelyn Wu* |
U30 Team Female | Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
|
Faith Tai* |
U30 Pair |
Orangeville Taekwondo | Bhajan Mann |
|
Grace Campbell |
Freestyle U17 Team | Master Rim’s Taekwondo | Seoungmin Rim |
|
Heinrich Botha |
Freestyle U17 Team | Master Rim’s Taekwondo | Seoungmin Rim |
|
Holly Cheuk* |
Freestyle O17 Team U30 Team Female |
Wu’s Taekwondo | Ricky Wu |
|
Ivan Leung |
Freestyle U17 Team Freestyle O17 Team (Spare) |
Wu’s Taekwondo | Ricky Wu |
|
Jake Kang |
Cadet Individual Male Freestyle U17 Team (Spare) |
Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
|
James Gies |
O30 Team Male O30 Pair |
North Roots Taekwondo | Hyun Seok Seo |
|
Jeehoon Sohn* |
O30 Team Male U60 Individual Male |
Sohn’s Agape Taekwondo | N/A |
|
Jinsu Ha* |
Freestyle O17 Individual Male Freestyle O17 Pair |
Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
|
John Ko* |
O30 Team Male U65 Individual Male |
Jung Ko Taekwondo | N/A |
|
Kai-Hsin Chang* |
Freestyle U17 Team Freestyle U17 Individual Male |
Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
|
Kaitlyn Wiens* |
U30 Team Female | Dynamic Taekwondo | Hyun Seok Seo |
|
Khalil Thompson* |
U30 Pair | Orangeville Taekwondo | Bhajan Mann |
|
Lisa Gibson* |
U60 Individual Female | Tae E Lee Orleans Taekwondo | Hyun Seok Seo |
|
Michelle Lee* |
Freestyle O17 Individual Female |
Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
|
Ming Chu Chan* |
O30 Pair | Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
|
Rachel Lee* |
Cadet Individual Female Freestyle U17 Individual Female |
Master Kang’s Black Belt Martial Arts | Ri Seong Kang |
|
Shelley Vettese-Baert* |
U65 Individual Female | Tiger Taekwondo | N/A |
|
Valerie Ho |
Freestyle O17 Team | Master Rim’s Taekwondo | Seoungmin Rim |
*Denotes medalist at the 2022 Pan American Online Poomsae Championships.
“Taekwondo Canada is extremely proud of what these athletes and their coaches have been able to accomplish. It has not been an easy process for any of these team members considering what needed to be done to meet COVID-19 restrictions simply to enter the event.” said Dr. Allan Wrigley, High Performance Director for Taekwondo Canada. “Master Kang, his fellow coaches, our staff, and of course the athletes have gone through great lengths to ensure that this team is ready to perform at the Championships.”
The team will further be supported by the Team Manager and COVID-19 Officer Lisa-Mae Petropoulos, along with Athletic Therapist Elwin Lau.
About Taekwondo Canada:
Taekwondo Canada is the official governing body of Taekwondo in Canada, overseeing the sport in all Provinces and Territories. Taekwondo Canada is recognized by World Taekwondo, the International Olympic Committee, PATU and Sport Canada. Taekwondo Canada will continue to be a leading nation in the sport by providing leadership and opportunities to enable its participants to achieve their goals.
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Contact:
Dave Harris
Executive Director
(519) 859-7410
ed@taekwondo-canada.com
