Taekwondo in India


Taekwondo is one of the most popular and practiced martial arts in India.
Master Puran Andrew Gurung introduced taekwondo to India after returning from Hong Kong to India. He studied Taekwondo under Korean Great Grand Master Lee Pyung Pal from 1969 to 1974. Since 1974 he has been promoting Taekwondo after earning his 2nd Dan under Great Grand Master Lee Pyung Pal. He initially started Taekwondo classes in Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Sikkim. Later he expanded his trainings to Kolkata, southern, northeast and northern parts of India. He traveled frequently to every part of India until 1984. He has been conferred the title of "Father of Taekwondo in India" by official taekwondo hall of fame USA.
On 2nd Aug. 1976, the Taekwondo Federation of India was formed and established as a National Body of Taekwondo in India by Jimmy R Jagtyani who is considered as pioneer of taekwondo in India by Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame.
Grand Master Kiranpal an International Referee have been doing a great job for Indian Taekwondo since 1988, when first time Taekwondo was demonstrated in Seoul Olympics in 1988.