DEC 30, 2025: BJP MLA Khemchand Singh became the first in India to receive the 5th Dan Black Belt in the traditional martial art form of Taekwondo, awarded by the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation.
The 62-year-old MLA, who began his career in Taekwondo at the age of 16, was felicitated by the Chairman of the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation, Mayong Suk, on Tuesday at her office in Seoul. The certificate of the 5th Dan was issued by six Grand Masters in Taekwondo, led by Jun Lee, President of the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation.
The Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation is the highest body of Korean Taekwondo in its traditional martial art form, while the World Taekwondo Federation controls its sports form. He could not visit Seoul earlier to receive the certificate due to the ethnic conflict in Manipur.
The Technical Director of the academy, Grand Master Chang Seong Dong, lauded the devotion shown by Khemchand to the art of Taekwondo. He stated that Khemchand has played a pivotal role in spreading the art of Taekwondo in various parts of India.
In another development, the Sangrok World Taekwondo Academy, which functions under the World Taekwondo Federation, appreciated Khemchand for his dedication and contribution to the field of Taekwondo and for spreading the martial art in India. The academy, headquartered in Seoul, has branches in seventy countries across the globe.
It may be mentioned that BJP MLA Khemchand is also the founder President of the All-Assam Taekwondo Association in 1982 and pioneered the promotion of the martial art of Taekwondo in Manipur. In the early 1980s, he was considered a key figure in popularizing the sport and in forming the Taekwondo Federation of India, and also served as the Vice President of the Taekwondo Federation of India.
