Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh was conferred the Grand Master 9th Dan by the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation (GTTF) during the inauguration of the first Manipur State Poomsae Taekwondo Championship 2026 at Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium.
He said Khemchand Singh had won the national championship multiple times and was among the pioneers who helped establish and popularise taekwondo in India. GTTF president Grand Master Jun Lee presented the distinction to the Chief Minister at the inaugural ceremony on Wednesday, highlighting his longstanding contribution to taekwondo. Chief Minister Khemchand also demonstrated his martial arts skills and reflexes during the programme, drawing attention to his continued association with the discipline. Grand Master Jun Lee presented the distinction to the Chief Minister. Photo Credit: NDTV Praising the Chief Minister, Jun Lee described him as one of India’s outstanding taekwondo practitioners of the early 1980s.
The Chief Minister also addressed the gathering and said the championship, organised with the participation of a delegation led by Jun Lee from the Republic of Korea, the birthplace of taekwondo, would provide aspiring practitioners from Manipur with greater exposure and opportunities to reach international standards. Home and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, Govindas Konthoujam said Manipur possessed abundant sporting talent across disciplines and described the championship as an important step towards building a stronger and more inclusive taekwondo movement in the state.
