Moldova to adopt taekwondo in elementary curriculum

The Eastern European country Moldova will offer taekwondo as an optional sport in the elementary school curriculum to promote the Korean martial art.

Moldovan Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) President Choue Chung-won discussed ways to further develop the fighting discipline in Moldova at the Novil Hotel in the country’s capital Chisinau, Friday.

Strelet said the Moldovan government plans to construct a WTF Regional Training Center by 2018 and increase taekwondo instructors in support of the sports education system.

Moldovan Youth and Sports Minister Loretta Handrabura announced at a subsequent press conference that the country will adopt taekwondo as new elective sport in the elementary school curriculum.

In December, Handrabura will visit Mexico to bid for hosting the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series in 2016 and Choue promised his full support to the Moldovan government’s ambitious plan to become stronger in taekwondo.

Moldova recently secured the world’s No. 2 Aaron Cook as Cook acquired Moldovan citizenship this year and the eastern European country hopes to win its first-ever Olympic medal in Rio in 2016.