The Vietnam Taekwondo Federation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with leaders of South Korea’s Geoje City ©VTF

The Vietnam Taekwondo Federation (VTF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with leaders of South Korea’s Geoje City, who will offer support in the future development of the sport in the country.

As part of the deal, Geoje City will send its taekwondo experts to Vietnam to choose suitable training places and support long-term training sessions for Vietnamese players in South Korea.

Other exchange programmes will also be organised.

According to Geoje City Deputy Mayor II-Jun Seo, the aim is to help Vietnam return to participating in taekwondo in time for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The VTF has also had meetings with the Asian Taekwondo Union and the World Taekwondo Academy in Seoul to discuss international activities and cooperation.

The potential organisation of tournaments in Vietnam in 2017 and 2018 was also discussed. 

Thi Kim Ngan Ho won Vietnam's only medal at the 2016 WTF World Taekwondo Junior Championships ©WTF
Thi Kim Ngan Ho won Vietnam's only medal at the 2016 WTF World Taekwondo Junior Championships ©WTF

One of Vietnam's country's four Olympic medals was won in the sport of taekwondo.

Trần Hiếu Ngân claimed silver in the women's 57 kilograms competition at Sydney 2000.

Thi Kim Ngan Ho appears to be one of the rising starts of taekwondo in Vietnam.

She claimed a gold medal at last year's World Taekwondo Federation World Junior Championships in Burnaby in Canada.

Ho defeated Maria Calderon of Costa Rica 5-2 in the final of the women's under 44 kilograms competition to claim her country's solitary medal.