Undergraduates and school students win scholarships
Top student exponents of taekwondo were rewarded at the second All-Round Students' Awards recently.
The awards were organised by the Taekwondo Jet Kick Kwan organisation. Forty-four students from universities, secondary and primary schools received scholarships in recognition of their academic performance and taekwondo skills.
Wong Ka-wing, the organisation's chief instructor, said he was happy that taekwondo had become popular among schools.
'At first, many people had a wrong impression of the sport. But soon they learned it was a fine sport which can have a positive influence on students. The message was soon spread by word of mouth among schools,' he said.
According to Mr Wong, taekwondo is a sport which focuses heavily on discipline, will power and strength.
The sport can help improve students' concentration in studying, teach them how to take failure in their stride and be better disciplined.
Cheung Chi-kwong, 16, a sixth former at Lui Ming Choi Lutheran College, had been learning taekwondo for six months. He said he joined the taekwondo club at school because he wanted to be a good fighter. But things were not as he expected. 'The training is very tough,' he said.
Soo Tsz-him, 12, a Form One student at Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memory School who took up the sport a year ago, said it was very exciting and challeng ing. 'Everyone has his or her strengths and weakness,' he said.
'And taekwondo requires us to develop our strength.
'Although I'm short, I can move with great agility and respond quickly.'
Choi Tung-po, 16, a sixth former at Tseung Kwan O Government Secondary School, also joined the school's taekwondo club a year ago. He said he had to practise every day when he first took part in the sport.
'It is inevitable you get hurt no matter which sport you play,' he said.
'But I never think of giving it up because I find that taekwondo can improve my confidence. There are many more skills and technics for me to learn still,' he said.
