31.5.2022 / Sonkal Open 2022 ( info pack )

Sonkal Open 2022 - 734 matches in taekwon-do itf

The last Saturday in May belonged to Sonkal Open in taekwondo again after two years. This year's edition was not only a return to the traditional date, but also to normal operation without covid measures. It was also a year of several records. The first was the number of competitors - 308, the next record was the number of countries - 5, and the next was the number of divisions - 28. This also resulted in a very nice record of 6 wrestling venues that were in operation for practically 90% of the competition time! The positive thing was that the sports hall in Řepy could accommodate all this without any problems.

Two blemishes on the beauty of the whole competition were the delayed start, caused by confusion and changes in the Ukrainian team, which was the fourth largest, and the poorly functioning online broadcasts. Unfortunately, these were dropping out and there was little room to address where the problem was. It is a challenge for us to fine tune this part to our full satisfaction for the next competition in this hall as well.

But let's get back to the competition - besides the foreign teams from Slovakia, Norway, Croatia and the previously mentioned Ukraine, a number of teams from the Czech Republic took to the tatami. Even all four ITF Taekwondo associations that operate in our country were represented! But above all it was significant how many members of the Czech national team appeared in the Sonkal Open events, including the current European champions. And speaking of competitions, 734 matches took place during the whole day! This is a very nice number and thanks to all the judges who supervised the performances and decided the winners.

For the Czech competitors the participation of the Ukrainian team was a very good experience. After all, to compete on home soil with the European top is an excellent opportunity for comparison.

The initial fears of the organizing team about the late end of the competition did not come true thanks to the excellent cooperation of coaches, competitors and judges and before 7 pm the most successful schools of Sonkal Open 2022 were announced - 1st Sonkal, 2nd Ukraine and 3rd GBHS.

The most successful individuals were awarded gift vouchers from Hayashi.cz and Ataxon pads in addition to the traditional trophies:
- Konstantinos Charalambidis, Toi Gae, Junior
- Anna Mi, GBHS, junior pupil
- Artem Hetman, GBHS, senior
- Eliška Trčková, Brno, senior female
- Lukáš Sekera, Sabom, younger junior
- Karolína Chmelíková, Třeboň, younger junior
- Hubert Skála, Sonkal, older junior
- Apolenka Ponížilová, Na-Mu, older junior
- Jiří Novák, Sonkal, senior
- Martina Kopecká, Silla, senior

In addition to the photos, you will see Alex Mach's video report during the week, which is a cross-section of the whole event. If anyone needs photos of the medalists, you can find them on the FB profile of the organizing Sonkal.

The whole competition was organized thanks to:
- financial support of the Prague City Hall
- the patronage and material support of the Czech Taekwon-Do ITF
- financial support of Hayashi
- financial support of Ataxon

Many thanks to all competitors, coaches, referees and especially to the members of Sonkal who participated not only in the preparation and cleaning of the sports hall.

We will look forward to Ataxon Open 2022 in Řepy on December 3, Sonkal Open 2023 next year and already this September during the Czech Taekwon-Do ITF Cup.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)