The International Open Friendship Taekwondo was first organized in 2000. It is now in its 15th edition.
What you should know
The International Open Friendship Taekwondo Championship (IOFTC) is a taekwondo competition that originated in Nepal.
The International Open Friendship Taekwondo was first organized in 2000. Now it is in its 15th edition. This competition is going to be organized in Nepal again. The 15th edition of the competition is being held at the Rakhep Covered Hall in Tripureshwor on Poush 4 and 5.
The IOFTC Nepal Chapter has stated that all the preparations for it have been completed. IOFTC founder and director Diwakar Maharjan said that the International Open Friendship Taekwondo Championship has been on a journey of 25 years and said that this time the competition will be organized in a grand manner.
He said, ‘IOFTC has been promoting sportsmanship, friendship and international unity through Taekwondo as per its objectives. We have come to organize it again on our own soil.’
The IOFTC in Portland, USA has been organizing this Taekwondo Championship every two years. It alternates one edition in the US and the other edition outside the US. Accordingly, the IOFTC has announced that it will organize 5 editions in Portland, 4 editions in Nepal, one edition each in India, the UK and Hong Kong, Michigan in the US and Seoul in South Korea.
IOFTC Nepal President Min Prasad Khanal expressed his gratitude to the IOFTC Headquarters for once again giving Nepal the responsibility of organizing the 15th edition.
IOFTC Nepal General Secretary Giri Bahadur Sunar said that a cultural festival will also be held on the last day in line with the goal of making the 15th edition to be held in Nepal even more grand. He said that the message of Nepal's rich cultural diversity and international friendship will be conveyed.
International Coordinator of the competition Ashok Khadka informed that players from host Nepal, South Korea, the US, the Philippines, Australia, Austria, Canada, Pakistan, India, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Maldives, Bangladesh and other countries will participate in the championship. According to him, about 1,000 players, coaches and referees will participate in the competition.
The championship, which will be held according to the rules of World Taekwondo, includes Gyorogi (fight) and Poomsae (form). Senior men and women will compete in 8-8 weight groups. Juniors will compete in 10-19 weight groups for women and men, and cadets in 10-10 weight groups. Senior, junior, and cadet poomsae will compete in three events: individual, pair, and team. In addition, a board breaking event has been included. The championship will compete for 65 gold, 65 silver, and 130 bronze medals. It is said that cash prizes will be awarded to the winners, best players, coaches, and referees. Director Maharjan informed that the total prize money is 725,000 rupees and the budget of the championship is 10.4 million rupees.
is also a selection competition for Nepali players for the 16th edition to be held in Australia in 2026. Its winning players will be allowed to participate in the competition. Kukiwan coach Min Hak Seole will come to Nepal for the
championship. There will also be a Poomsae seminar on the first day of the competition. The seminar will be conducted by Coach CO. It is said that the best male and female players, the best referee, and the best coach will be awarded Rs 50,000 each.
The competition, which will be held in collaboration with IOFTC USA, Nepalese Taekwondo Academy, and Koteshwor Taekwondo Dojang, will be supported by Nakhep, UNTF, DAFO, and USA World Class Taekwondo Hollywood, according to the organizers.
