(Denver, CO) – Master Komiljon Latipov’s busy life just got a little bit busier. He already is a PE Teacher at Crescent View Academy, as well as the coach of the Korean Academy of Taekwondo Competition Team. Now, he has been named the Tajikistan National Team Coach for the 2013 World Championships, at which time his contract may be extended depending on the results achieved.The announcement wasn’t entirely unexpected, as the success of KAT and Tajik athletes had already been featured in several news articles.
Master Komiljon was humble but excited. He said “It is always nice to coach high level athletes. Thanks to my country for believing in me!” Although Tajikistan has only 7 million people (as compared to 5 million for Colorado) the country is one of only a handful that qualified two males (the maximum) for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Three Tajik national team athletes were already in Colorado for a training camp to prepare for the upcoming US Open and 2013 World Taekwondo Championships. They attended the Pikes Peak Daedo Championships which had many high level athletes from the US and other countries.
It is clear that there is already good chemistry between Master Komiljon and the team. 2012 Olympian Alisher Gulov won the heavyweight division, while fellow 2012 Olympian Farkoud Negmatov won first place in the Welterweight division. The victories earned both competitors sponsorship to the US Open including registration and hotel fees. Khusrav Giyosov competed in the Olympic Featherweight division where he handily defeated his first two opponents. In the finals he faced fellow KAT athlete Ahmed Alsubaihawi from the Iraq National team in what could be a preview of a match at the world championships. Giyosov was winning 22-17 with only 2 seconds left when Alsubaihawi forced him to take Giyosov’s 8th kyon-go penalty,giving the victory to Alsubaihawi.
Stay tuned to Colorado Martial Arts News for all the latest coverage including interviews with the Tajik team and more tournament results.
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