Cross-Straits taekwondo contest kicks off in Pingtan

The sixth Cross-Straits Taekwondo Communication Contest kicked off in Pingtan, Fujian province on July 13.

More than 430 contestants from 21 teams, including 62 from Taiwan, took part in the one-day contest. The age of this year's participants ranged from four to 30 years old.

Lo Yutseng, a senior student from Taiwan Normal University, was competing at the contest for the first time, but his great taekwondo moves still enabled him to whitewash his opponent with a 5-0 win.

"At the very beginning, I felt a bit nervous, but I got rid of it afterwards. My secret to winning is high speed and accuracy," Lo said.

"Sports could be a way to demonstrate a nation's overall strength, and I think it is very meaningful to take part in the contest and make friends here," he added.

Chang N'enghsiang, taekwondo coach at Taiwan Normal University, paid a visit to Pingtan back in 2012, when the event was first held, and this time he led 29 students to take part in the event.

Chang gave a thumbs up to the city's rapid development and enchanting views.

"Pingtan has seen rapid development, and the views here are great, in particular the well-preserved stone houses," he said.

Chang also added that it had been a rewarding trip for his team to take part in the event and that he would bring what he learned from taekwondo coaches and students on the mainland back with him to Taiwan.

The contest is an annual event which has been held for five consecutive years in Pingtan, and might be developed into a brand sports event in the future, giving a further impetus to the city's tourism development, according to Gao Yun, an official from Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone’s bureau of social affairs.

Pingtan, the closest city on the mainland to Taiwan, has been actively promoting closer cross-Straits ties by hosting a series of cultural and sports events in recent years. The city also holds cycling, swimming and sailing events for people from the mainland and Taiwan each year.

More than 430 contestants from 21 teams across China take part in the sixth Cross-Straits Taekwondo Communication Contest in Pingtan, Fujian province on July 13. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]