YARRAVILLE’S Tae Kwon Do Champ Nhan Hoang is just a ‘bit nervous’ about being Australia’s only representative at the International Martial Arts Games in North Korea next month.
But Mr Hoang, 18, is looking forward to the challenge and is training hard to bring home the title.
“I just want the title, I’m pretty confident right now, but I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said.
Coach Danny Kordanovski has trained western suburbs youths for the past 15 years in Tae Kwon Do.
“(Mr Hoang) is very modest,” he said.
“I wouldn’t take anyone if I didn’t think they had a chance and be competitive.”
Mr Hoang will be one of more than 1000 athletes from 50 countries taking part in the tournament.
“It’s the first time anyone (from Australia) has competed in the International Martial Arts Games, that’s why this is very exciting.”
Mr Kordanovski said this is the second year that the games are being held.
“It’s basically the Olympic Games of martial arts events,” he said.
Mr Kordanovski said the North Koreans would put on a spectacular martial arts exhibition in honour of the games.
“It’s going to be one of the last times they have a whole military performance,” he said.
Mr Hoang holds the Oceanic and national Tae Kwon Do titles.
He expects to become an electrical engineer, and is studying such a course at Victoria University, but Mr Hoang also hopes to become a Tae Kwon Do coach one day.
The competition will be held on 22 August.
