The national taekwondo team has invited the former world champion Kim Jae Sik (Korean), 28, to train its artists, wishing to surpass Thailand to take the lead in Southeast Aisa.

The Korean coach will start working in Vietnam as of February 15, with monthly pay of $2,700. He was the world champion in the men’s 62kg category in 2005. He has been away from this career for two years.

Previously the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation hired another Korean expert, Kim Seon Kyoo, former chief of the referee division of the Asia Taekwondo Federation, as its adviser at some tournaments.

In recent years, Vietnamese taekwondo always ranked behind Thailand at the SEA Games and the Olympics. This year, Vietnam aims to take three to four gold medals at the 25^th SEA Games. At the 24^th SEA Games, Vietnam had three gold, four silvers and six bronze medals.

After female artist Vo Hieu Ngan won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics, Vietnam failed to repeat the record at 2004 Olympics and 2008 Olympics.

This year, the national taekwondo team will participate in three key international tournaments: the ASIAD Young Taekwondo, the Asia Indoor Games and the 25^th SEA Games.

Some local significant taekwondo events will be held this year, namely the National Taekwondo Championship 2009 in April in Hanoi, the Taekwondo Cup for French Speaking Countries in May and the HCM City International Taekwondo Tournament in July.

VietNamNet/TP