Muhammad wins US National Taekwondo Poomse (Forms) Pairs Competition

Bird · Dec 6, 2008

He will compete on Dec. 17th, a Thursday.

Er, uh, . . . Hakim, my calendar shows the 17th to be a Wednesday.

Is it different in that part of the world? But we wish them luck, whatever day it is.

Hakim · Dec 6, 2008

Bird said:
Er, uh, . . . Hakim, my calendar shows the 17th to be a Wednesday. Is it different in that part of the world? But we wish them luck, whatever day it is.

Uh, uh, er ... well, let's see. The situation is this: Turkey time is about 10 hours "ahead" of the US. So, we will get the results here on the 17th, which is a Wednesday, as you point out. But by then it most likely will already be Thursday in Turkey. !

!

Bird · Dec 6, 2008

Muhammad · Dec 6, 2008

Thanks for the well wishes. I'm leaving for Turkey next Thursday and will compete the following Wednesday (Dec 17th). Hoping to bring home the gold for team USA.

MossRoad · Dec 6, 2008

Should we cheer USA USA USA

or

TBN TBN TBN?

I'll probably cheer country first.

Best of luck and have a safe and happy trip.

Wayne County Hose · Dec 6, 2008

Haeng un USA Tae Kwon Do. Jung Shin!

rox · Dec 7, 2008

Muhammad said:
Thanks for the well wishes. I'm leaving for Turkey next Thursday and will compete the following Wednesday (Dec 17th). Hoping to bring home the gold for team USA.

You have my very very best wishes. Good Luck Muhammad I wish you well!
Have you been to Turkey before? Very hard to get a cocktail there and also some bizzar breakfast foods. I was served cow tongue, olives, tomatoes and cheese for breakfast every day at a four star hotel. If this is not your usual breakfast you might consider bringing a couple boxes of cereal with you. Good Good Good LUCK!

Wayne County Hose · Dec 17, 2008

Today is the day.

Please keep us posted. Is there any tv coverage here in the states?

http://www.wtf.org/site/wtf/notice.htm?realnum=273&mode=view

Hakim · Dec 17, 2008

Wayne County Hose said:
Today is the day. Please keep us posted. Is there any tv coverage here in the states?

The World Taekwondo Federation

It is 5 PM in Turkey as I write. The competition is almost over, and awards ceremony will be at 6:30 PM Turkish time. So results should be here within a couple of hours.

On Day 1, Muhammad's pair partner, Lillian Angel, was also competing in "Single Junior Female" division. She did not place high enough for a medal. As As Ibrahim said last night when we spoke (via Skype, which is just fabulous), "her nerves got the best of her" and she made an error. Hopefully that did not happen today, when she and Muhammad compete in Pairs. They have an excellent chance at a medal. But this is a large and very tough competition. Muhammad has 40 competitors in his singles division, and around 35 in pairs competitors. They are ALL very good, the best.

Muhammad did compete earlier today at 10 AM (in Turkey, 10 hours "ahead" of USA). Pairs were this afternoon around 2 pm, midnight last night here (I know, it is dizzying to try to track these changes). So, we will see the results soon. I will post up whatever I hear.

No TV coverage in USA that I am aware of. They did say that have many photos and videos and will try to post some up in the next few days.

Thanks to all for your interest and support. We really do appreciate it.

Hakim · Dec 17, 2008

Just got off the phone with Muhammad. In singles division, he made it into the second round, but did not medal. He finished in the top 20; in pairs, they also made it into the final round, but again did not medal, finishing 12th.

Overall it was a great experience. Since the forms or "Poomse" is not officially part of Taekwondo at the Olympics, yet, this World Championship is the closest thing to a world title. So all in all, we are extremely proud and satisfied at their performance in his first World competition.

I will post some links to videos of various competitors within the next day or so.

Thanks again for all your support and encouragement!