Sharjah hosted the fourth edition of the Emirates-Korean Friendship Championship ©Sharjah Club

More than 230 male and female taekwondo players from across the United Arab Emirates participated in the recently-held Emirates-Korean Friendship Championship in Sharjah.

As reported by Gulf News, Sharjah Club claimed the male team winners' trophy at the fourth edition of the event, outplaying their opponents from at least 21 taekwondo clubs.

Abdullah Hatim, the UAE’s national team coach and technical director of Sharjah Club, lifted the trophy.

Fujairah Martial Arts Club (FMAC) secured the overall winners' trophy with a total of 36 medals, made up of 18 golds, nine silvers and nine bronzes.

Receiving the trophy was FMAC director Nadir Abu Shawish.

Sharjah Club ranked second overall with a total of 33 medals, including 18 golds.

Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club finished third, while Ittihad Kalba Club and Al Moharb Martial Arts Club Ras Al Khaimah came fourth and fifth, respectively.

Kwon Youngwoo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United Arab Emirates, was the main guest ©Sharjah Club
Kwon Youngwoo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United Arab Emirates, was the main guest ©Sharjah Club

The main guest at the event was Kwon Youngwoo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UAE.

Kwon praised the level of taekwondo players in the UAE and said that he was very pleased to see the Korean martial art growing quickly in the country.

He also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the UAE Taekwondo Federation in promoting the sport.

Brigadier Ahmad Hamdan Obaid Ahmad Al Zayoudi, President of the UAE Taekwondo Federation, thanked Kwon for sponsoring the event for a fourth consecutive year.

He promised the national governing body would continue to promote the sport and support players at local and international level.

"The UAE Taekwondo Federation is taking steps to help grow taekwondo in the UAE and the region, and this championship will contribute to this goal as a large number of players from all over the country participated in making this event a big success," Al Zayoudi was reported as saying by Gulf News.

A Korean taekwondo demonstration team also performed at the event, displaying their skills at a ceremony.