Doda, 21 August 2026: The 3rd Chenab Open Taekwondo Championship 2026 commenced today at the Indoor Sports Hall, Doda, with a grand opening ceremony attended by distinguished dignitaries, officials, coaches, athletes and sports enthusiasts.
The championship is being organised by the Taekwondo Association of District Doda (TADD) under the aegis of the J&K Taekwondo Association (JKTA) and J&K Sports Council (JKSC). Around 400 players representing 25 clubs affiliated with the J&K Taekwondo Association from across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir are participating in the championship.
The opening ceremony was graced by Shri Krishan Lal, JKAS, Deputy Commissioner, Doda, as the Chief Guest. Shri Anil Kumar Thakur, Additional Commissioner, Doda, and Shri Manish Kumar, Chief Planning Officer (CPO), Doda, attended as Guests of Honour. Mr Danish Manzoor, Fit India Brand Ambassador, was also present as a Special Guest.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Shri Krishan Lal, JKAS, congratulated the entire organising team for successfully hosting such a large-scale sporting event at the district level. He appreciated the efforts being made to promote Taekwondo and sports among the youth and encouraged all participating athletes to work hard and represent Jammu & Kashmir with distinction in upcoming national and international competitions.
The championship is being headed by Mr Junaild Ali Khan, President, Taekwondo Association of District Doda, and Mr Burhan Ud Din Khan, Secretary, TADD, Mr Irfan Malik (Vice President, TADD) & Mr Babar Mujahid (Joint Secretary, TADD)
The tournament is being technically supervised by Shri Atul Pangotra (International Referee), serving as Tournament Director.
The technical and organising team includes Shri Brinder Singh Manhas, Muzamil Rashid Malik, Pankaj Spolia, Vipin Kumar, Pushap Thakur, Pankaj Kumar, Amit Kumar, Hashim Majid, Zain Nazir, Mohit Thakur, Vansh Rakwal, Sumit Kumar, Gunjan Kumari, Mohd Ashiq and Vaibah Abrol, who are contributing to the smooth and successful conduct of the championship.
A major highlight of the championship is the use of the PSS (Protective Scoring System), with all matches being conducted through the electronic PSS system, ensuring transparency, accuracy and professional standards in officiating and scoring.
On the occasion, Shri Rajesh Pangotra, President, J&K Taekwondo Association, and Shri Ramesh Chander Sharma, General Secretary, J&K Taekwondo Association, congratulated the organisers, technical officials, coaches and athletes for the successful commencement and conduct of the championship. Also Thankful to the Department Youth Services & Sports for Supporting & providing officials for the smooth conduct of championship.
The opening ceremony reflected the growing popularity of Taekwondo across Jammu & Kashmir and provided a strong platform for young athletes to showcase their talent, discipline, sportsmanship and competitive spirit.
The 3rd Chenab Open Taekwondo Championship 2026 will continue to witness intense competition among athletes from different districts and clubs of the Union Territory, with participants aiming to secure top honours and further strengthen their prospects at higher levels of competition.
