The reality of Panamanian taekwondo

He Panamanian Taekwondo there are four women who will represent us in 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games which will be held in The Salvador, something very unusual that it is only women, admits the president Panama Taekwondo Federation, Martín Peterson.

He will represent Panama at the regional event Karoline Castillo -49 kilograms, Carolena Carstens -57 kg, Brenda Brooks – 67, all of them in fights, also in traditional poomsae and freestyle will be Daniela Rodríguez.

Martin Peterson claims that those classified as Carolena Cartens train and prepare Spain, Karoline Castillo located in Brazil, besides Brenda Brooks and Daniela Rodrigueze are located in Panama, each athlete trains under the supervision of their coaches and preparation plans.

Petersonwho won medals in Central America and the Caribbean in 1990. in Mexico and Venezuela 1998, doHe added that, like other sports, Panamanian athletes must emigrate to other countries in order to raise their competitive level, because in Panama No sports facilities, no modern facilities, no trainer updates.

As in other Panamanian sports, “in taekwondo, the real heroes are the parents,” he added. Peterson, who added that they are the ones who bear the expenses, invest and contribute financial resources, travel to international tournaments among other things.

For Peterson, this is a “pity” that in Panama, with so many resources it is not possible to have adequate sports facilities, added the leader who recalled how in his days as an athlete he had to train in Cuba, because in our country there are no sports facilities for high competition levels.

Panama will be represented at 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games four women, something that “was a coincidence” that doesn’t always happen, Peterson said, and that in the qualifications that took place in Costa Rica two athletes participated, but did not advance.

The presenter added that it was Taekwondo A lot has changed, “the Olympic program is very demanding, it’s more electronic now,” Peterson said, adding that it wasn’t like that before, now Panama and their trainers must be constantly updated, he pointed out.

Peterson He asserted that he, as a coach and association, is trying to implement and develop the basics so that Panamanian athletes can start playing this sport.

But when they go to the next level, they have to look for other horizons, train and prepare in another country, because there are no adequate facilities in Panama, the president repeated. Panama Taekwondo Federation.

On level Central America and the Caribbean, there are powers like Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Colombia, which have a good level, and in that area there is also Guatemala, including Costa Rica, which performed taekwondo first before us, Peterson added, as possible rivals of Panama at the regional level tournament.