PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten King Yen Tae Kwon Do School took third place at the 20th Puerto Rico International Tae Kwon Do Championships "Los Gallitos Olimpicos 2013," held early March. This time the team was also extended with athletes from the Seniors/Master Division. The delegation was represented by Jeroen Veen, Sonny Wongsonadi and Carlo Talkami.
The King Yen athletes brought home 21 Gold, 13 Silver, and three Bronze, and also won the Grand Champ Trophy and was recognized as the 3th Best International Team after partaking in several sparring as well the poomsee (patterns or forms) divisions.
The tournament took place at the Arquelio Torres Coliseum of San German. This is the 7th time that the King Yen School has taken part in this yearly tournament.
The team competed against 768 athletes from Brazil, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, U.S.A (New York, Florida, Georgia), U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix, St. Barths, Columbia, St. Kitts & Nevis and Puerto Rico.
The delegation leader and head coach, Theo Liu says the competition was tough but that his athletes did very well especially against the athletes from Puerto Rico whereby some judges had as usual had an attitude of their country first.
"We have received a number of invitations from all the participating countries," King Yen Tae Kwon Do School Grand Master Theo Liu said.
A great number of parents traveled along with the athletes. Liu says he is very appreciative for their support and help with the youngsters.
The schools delegation was the biggest ever, 53 persons and the delegation leader and Head Coach Liu was strongly supported by:
Charlene Craig: Team coordinator & Coach;
Joel Rombley: Coach
Marcel Loor: Coach
Paulien Vuijst: Medical – Sports Therapist & Chaperone;
John Gumbs: Photographer/Camera
Liu added that he is very thankful to the various sponsors who have made the trip possible to this international tournament, namely Oriental Caribbean Insurances (OCI), Euro Caribbean Linkup N.V., Green Fingers N.V., Gulf Insurances, Sheriff Security, Fatum N.V., Henderson Insurances N.V., SKEEDO PESS N.V., GEBE, Lexwell Attorneys, Sunny Food, Staff Helmut Schneider Christian Hillside School, Bloem Attorneys N.V., Intermar, The Daily Herald, UTS N.V., and parents, family members and many others not mentioned.
The tournament took place at the Arquelio Torres Coliseum of San German.