Taekwondo in Arunachal Pradesh

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (Wikipedia — Taekwondo in India, Taekwondo Federation of India, India Taekwondo, Grokipedia — Taekwondo in India (governance status as of Nov 2025), Taekwondo Federation of India and India Taekwondo official sites).

Overview

Governing body: Taekwondo Federation of India
Origin: 1940s Korea
Olympic discipline: Yes
Category: Combat
Total players listed: …

Taekwondo is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The Taekwondo Federation of India oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Taekwondo is a recognised Olympic discipline, which shapes the entire high-performance pipeline in India. Athletes who break into the senior national camp become eligible for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which funds international training stints, foreign coaches, sports science support, equipment and travel for ranking events. Below the senior tier, the Khelo India Youth Games, University Games and Winter Games act as the country's largest scouting net, feeding talent into the Khelo India Talent Development scheme where annual stipends, boarding and dedicated coaching are provided at SAI National Centres of Excellence and accredited academies. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports tracks every selected athlete's progress against published benchmarks, and underperformance can mean a drop from the scheme — the pathway is rigorous by design.

Combat sport pathways in India are unusually deep because of the country's traditional akhara and dojo culture sitting alongside the modern federation structure. The Taekwondo Federation of India runs sub-junior, junior, youth and senior nationals every year, and weight-category selection trials decide who represents India at continental and world events. Sports science, weight management and injury rehabilitation have become major focus areas since multiple Indian combat athletes have reached the Olympic and World Championship podium. SAI's combat-sport centres at Patiala, Lucknow, Bhopal, Sonepat and the IIS in Vijayanagar form the backbone of the elite training network.

At the grassroots, the route into Taekwondo typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Taekwondo originated in 1940s Korea, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Taekwondo, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the Taekwondo Federation of India, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Taekwondo is played and developed across India under the Taekwondo Federation of India, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How taekwondo evolved globally and took root in India.

Taekwondo traces its modern origins to 1940s Korea. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and Taekwondo Federation of India is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, taekwondo grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under Taekwondo Federation of India, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Taekwondo being on the Olympic programme reshaped its Indian pathway: Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) selection, Khelo India Talent Development stipends and international training stints became the norm for the country's leading athletes.

Indian Players

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Rules

Two competitors score points with kicks and punches to the trunk and head in kyorugi (sparring), fought over three rounds of two minutes on an octagonal mat. Electronic body protectors and headgear register valid contact: 1 point for a punch to the trunk, 2 for a trunk kick, 3 for a spinning trunk kick, 3 for a head kick and 5 for a spinning head kick. Poomsae is judged separately on accuracy and presentation of set forms. Penalties (gam-jeom) award a point to the opponent.

Authoritative rulebook: Taekwondo Federation of India. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a taekwondo squad or competition.

Fighter / competitor
Contests bouts inside the ring, mat or cage in a set weight category.
Corner / second
Coach in the corner during the bout — allowed to instruct between rounds.
Referee & judges
Officiate the bout, score rounds and enforce safety rules.
Cutman / medical
Manages cuts, swelling and immediate medical needs between rounds.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in taekwondo at a federation-recognised event.

Dobok (uniform) with coloured belt denoting grade
Electronic trunk protector (hogu) and headgear
Electronic socks/foot sensors for scoring
Shin, forearm and groin guards, gum shield
Matted competition area (8m octagon)

Governing body

National federation

Taekwondo Federation of India

Taekwondo Federation of India is the recognised national body for Taekwondo in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for taekwondo. State associations under Taekwondo Federation of India run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: 1940s Korea
Olympic: Yes
Category: Combat

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Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the taekwondo calendar in India.

National Kyorugi & Poomsae Taekwondo Championships
The longest-running national championship (39th edition held January 2026), historically organized by the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI, founded 1976 by Jimmy R. Jagtiani in Lucknow).
Governance note
Since 2019, when the IOA formed 'India Taekwondo' to replace TFI amid internal disputes, governance has been genuinely contested — the matter has been before the Delhi High Court. India Taekwondo was recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports as the sole national federation in May 2025, though TFI's own championship structure appears to still be operating in parallel, and a separate 'Professional Taekwondo Federation (PTF) India' held its first national championships in 2026, welcoming ITF, Olympic (WT), and Kombat taekwondo styles.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in taekwondo.

Asian Taekwondo Championships / World Taekwondo Championships
India has competed at both since the 1980s.
Olympic Games
Taekwondo has been on the Olympic programme since Sydney 2000, but India has not yet qualified an athlete for Olympic taekwondo.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for taekwondo. The national championship under Taekwondo Federation of India remains the top domestic competition.

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International Players

Globally recognised taekwondo athletes to know outside India.

Mikaela Mayer (USA) / Naoya Inoue (Japan)
World-title boxers headlining the current pro scene.
Islam Makhachev (Russia)
UFC lightweight champion.
Zaur Uguev (Russia)
Two-time Olympic and multiple-time World wrestling champion.
Kim Yu-Jin (South Korea)
Olympic taekwondo gold medallist.
Uta Abe (Japan)
Olympic and World judo champion.

Records

Where to find India's official taekwondo record book.

Olympic medalsTracked
Individual and team Olympic medals for India in taekwondo are logged on the official IOC and IOA archives.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in taekwondo are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the Taekwondo Federation of India.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in taekwondo are maintained by the Taekwondo Federation of India.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for taekwondo and mirrored by Taekwondo Federation of India.
National record holdersFederation register
Taekwondo Federation of India publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in taekwondo — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

Playing pathway through state-recognized associations feeding into national championships — prospective athletes should be aware of the sport's genuinely contested governance landscape when choosing a pathway
Taekwondo is among India's most widely practiced martial arts at the grassroots/recreational level, even where competitive governance structures remain in flux
TFI has specifically targeted heavier weight categories for Olympic qualification, citing lower international competition there as a realistic route to a first Olympic medal
Coaching and instructor certification is available through multiple bodies given the current governance split

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Related academies

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Government Schemes

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Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for taekwondo athletes and academies.

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FAQs

Common questions about taekwondo in India.

Who governs Taekwondo in India?▾

Taekwondo Federation of India is the recognised national federation for Taekwondo in India. State associations under Taekwondo Federation of India run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Taekwondo an Olympic sport?▾

Yes, Taekwondo is on the Olympic programme. Selection for India runs through Taekwondo Federation of India and the international federation's ranking events, and top athletes are typically funded through TOPS.

How do I start playing Taekwondo in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Taekwondo athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Taekwondo?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Taekwondo athletes selected for international events?▾

Taekwondo Federation of India runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Taekwondo in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Taekwondo in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Taekwondo