Khemchand conferred Grand Master 9th Dan

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 21:  Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has been conferred the Grand Master 9th DAN by Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation (GTTF) today.
He was presented the title by GTTF president Grand Master Jun Lee at the opening ceremony of the 1st Manipur State Poomsae Taekwondo Championship 2026 at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium, Imphal.
During the function, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh demonstrated his martial arts skills and reflexes, reflecting his years of dedication and experience in the discipline.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister stated that the championship, being organised with the participation of a team led by GTTF president Jun Lee, who hails from the Republic of Korea, the country where the discipline originated, would help elevate the status of Taekwondo aspirants in Manipur to the international level.
Khemchand expressed hope that the Poomsae Championship would contribute to the growth and development of Taekwondo and take the discipline to greater heights in the future.
While delivering his speech, Jun Lee, lauding the Chief Minister, stated that Khemchand Singh is one of India’s most outstanding taekwondo practitioners in the early 1980s.
He won the India National Championship multiple times and was one of the legendary pioneers of Taekwondo in India, he added.
He maintained that many know him as a leader but long before he entered politics, he was a Taekwondo champion and he is still a taekwondo man.
Home and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam stated that Manipur has abundant sporting talent across various disciplines.
He said that the Poomsae Taekwondo Championship 2026 would serve as a foundation for building a stronger and more inclusive Taekwondo movement in Manipur.
He further called for fostering a sporting culture shaped by discipline, equal opportunities and the recognition of talent and determination among the youth.
He urged young people to leave all forms of violence behind and contribute towards building a peaceful society through sports.
As part of the programme, a Thang-Ta (traditional Manipur Martial Art) show was performed by Huyen Lallong Manipur Thang-Ta Cultural Association and a breathtaking performance presented by the students from Shinhan University, South Korea.
The 31-member GTTF delegation, who are visiting Manipur from October 19 to 24, 2026, includes three times Olympic medallist Hwang Kyung-Seon.
The programme was attended by MLAs; senior administrative officers; senior officials of the YAS Department; coaches; students and parents, among others, according to a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.