With BOSM just a few days away, the captain of the Taekwondo team, Saumya Modi, took time out of his hectic day and sat down with the BOSM English Press to talk about the team’s preparation for the upcoming matches.

Taekwondo is a form of martial art emphasizing kicking techniques. Players are awarded points for landing strikes to the opponent’s head or torso. In addition, players can also receive a negative point for falling due to their own blunders or violating the various regulations. Each match comprises three two-minute rounds, with a one-minute break in between successive rounds.

Saumya shared that the team members started practicing for the fest on August 17, shortly after finalizing the new recruits. He added that although they began with two hours of practice each in the morning and evening, they have since reduced it to only in the evening. He explained that it was to decrease the likelihood of injuries resulting from more practice. He further noted that presently, their practice prioritizes endurance and flexibility but soon will be incorporating full six-minute matches as well.

Saumya remarked that BITS Goa gave the team a formidable challenge last year and that they are anticipating the same from IIT Roorkee, SRCC, and various other academies this year. He expects a significant improvement in the team’s performance from last year owing to the increase in proficient players from 8 to 21.

Saumya is a black-belt 1-dan karate player and has been practicing the sport for the last sixteen years, having played at the international and national level on multiple occasions. He noted that despite his lack of Taekwondo training, he was able to quickly adapt to the sport. He expressed his disappointment with not being able to form a Karate team of his own, due to Karate not being recognized as a national sport in India.

When asked about his experience as a captain, he shared that it has been a fantastic journey for him. To conclude, he asked the BITSians to focus on sports or other physical activity alongside their other commitments.