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🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan /Sports

Kyrgyzstan Taekwondo Team Misses Asian Championship Amid Allegations of Fraud

From 24.kg · () Russian

Translated from Russian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Kyrgyzstan's national ITF taekwondo team missed the Asian Championship in Mongolia due to alleged fraud.
  • The team was unable to depart because airline tickets, paid for by the federation with over 2 million soms, had not been purchased.
  • The federation is seeking assistance from tour operators, airlines, and the government, with international bodies willing to extend registration deadlines.

The national ITF taekwondo team of Kyrgyzstan was prevented from competing in the Asian Championship in Mongolia due to an alleged fraud case involving ticket purchases. The team was scheduled to finalize accreditation for the competition, which begins tomorrow, but could not depart as planned.

According to Sardor Rakhimshaikhov, Vice President of the Kyrgyz ITF Taekwondo Federation, the federation had transferred over 2 million soms (approximately $23,000 USD) to purchase airline tickets for the athletes. However, these tickets were reportedly never bought, leaving the team stranded and unable to reach Ulaanbaatar via the planned Almaty-Beijing flight.

Rakhimshaikhov expressed the team's disappointment, stating they had prepared for the championship for over six months. "At the moment, we have only minimal chances of making it to the competition," he said in a video address.

The federation has appealed to various entities, including tour operators, airlines, and the country's leadership, for urgent assistance to help the team reach Mongolia. Both the International and Asian ITF Taekwondo Federations have expressed willingness to extend the registration deadline until tomorrow, offering a slim possibility for the athletes to still participate if the logistical issues can be resolved swiftly.

We had been preparing for this championship for more than six months. At the moment, we have only minimal chances of making it to the competition.

— Sardor RakhimshaikhovVice President of the Kyrgyz ITF Taekwondo Federation, describing the team's predicament.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by 24.kg in Russian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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