Taekwondo continues to impress

By PATRICIA KEAMO
TAEKWONDO is the first code in Papua New Guinea to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this year through Gibson Mara, who qualified during the Oceania Taekwondo Olympic Qualifying tournament earlier this month in the Solomon Islands.
Mara is among a handful of taekwondo athletes who have qualified to represent PNG in the Olympic Games in recent years.
Though most of the athletes who qualified for the Olympics were eliminated in the early rounds, their participation on the global stage speaks volumes of the pathway and preparations established by the code.
About 16 years ago, Theresa Tona made history for the code by becoming the first taekwondo athlete to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at a tender age of 17. The youngster was part of PNG’s first Olympic Team made up of four athletes that attended the Oceania Qualifiers in Noumea, New Caledonia.
Four years later, the Central lass went on to be the only PNG taekwondo athlete to qualify for the London Games in 2012 in the same category, -49kg.
“She was (the first from the code to qualify for Olympics),” national taekwondo head coach Edward Kassman recalls.
“We went to the Oceania Qualifiers in Noumea in 2008 and she came in second place. New Zealand then disqualified their athlete giving Theresa an opportunity to compete in Beijing that year.
“That (qualifier) was PNG’s first Olympic team made up of Thomas Tawan (-58kg), Ivan Kassman (-68kg), and Margaret Augerea (-57kg).
“The team was selected after a selection event was held at the Holiday Inn where teams came from Bereina, Hanuabada, Hula, Pinu, Boera and clubs in Port Moresby.”
Tona then embarked on her first shot at the big stage, going up against some of the best in the sport from 15 other countries.
The tournament was a single-elimination format where she fell short to advance further after losing her Vietnamese opponent Tran Truc in the -49kg.
Edward who was the trainer for the team in 2008 told The National yesterday that it was exciting moment for Tona and for PNG when she qualified
“I was very happy for her and excited about the prospects it beings for PNG Athletes in the sport,” he said.
“We then went on to the 2012 Qualifiers again in Noumea straight after the Pacific Games ended with Theresa (-49kg), Anton Aitsi (-58kg) and Ivan Kassman (-68kg). Theresa was unopposed in that weight class so she was a walk through for the London Games.”
That year Tona was the only PNG taekwondo athlete to qualify for the London games. Her qualification was on the back of a strong finish, picking up the Gold medal in the women’s 49kg division at the Oceania Olympic Qualifying tournament in September, 2011.
“From there we commenced preparations for the 2015 Pacific Games, held the 2016 Olympic Qualifiers here in Port Moresby at the Taurama Aquatic Center with Rose Tona (-49kg), Samantha Kassman (+67kg), Max Kassman (-68kg) and Jonathan Paschalis (+80kg) competing,” said Edward.
“Samantha was unopposed so qualified automatically, Max fought Vanuatu in the semifinal then Australia in the final and won just by the skin of his teeth with a flying kick to his opponent’s head.
“Jonathan lost in the semifinal to Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua and Rose lost to New Zealand in the semis as well.
“Samantha and Max (Kassman) went to Rio in 2016.”
Kassman said the following year in 2017, he took a break from the sport. In 2020, no one was able to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“I got back in mid-2022 so I’m rebuilding the sport before I leave.”
Kassman will now guide another youngster, Mara as they prepare for the Paris Olympic Games.”
in a few months.