Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh received the Grand Master 9th DAN title from the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The award was given during the opening of the 1st Manipur State Poomsae Taekwondo Championship at the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal. GTTF President Grand Master Jun Lee presented the title to recognize Singh for his past work as a national champion and his founding role in the All Assam Taekwondo Association in 1982.
During the event, Chief Minister Singh performed martial arts moves on stage to show his ongoing support for the sport. Grand Master Jun Lee stated that Singh practiced the craft long before entering politics. The ceremony also included a 31-member GTTF delegation, which featured three-time Olympic medalist Hwang Kyung-Seon, along with student performances from South Korea and local cultural groups.
Chief Minister Singh stated that he hopes the championship will help local Taekwondo players reach a global standard. Manipur Home, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Govindas Konthoujam spoke at the event as well, noting the state talent and urging youth to use sports for peace and discipline. Further details can be found in the original reports by
UNI India Sports and
UNI India East India.
