New Taekwondo Program Launched in Bellary to Train Future Olympians

The Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary has launched a residential taekwondo program aimed at training athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. With 24 selected athletes, the initiative focuses on providing elite coaching and structured training to bridge the gap in India's Olympic taekwondo achievements. Supported by the Sports Authority of India and renowned experts, this program seeks to elevate India's presence in the sport. The head coach, David Arturo Davis Diaz, will lead the training, while Gary Hall oversees the program's development. This initiative marks a significant step forward in nurturing future Olympic champions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 28, 2026, 02:16 IST

Inauguration of Taekwondo Training Initiative

Bellary (Karnataka) [India], April 27: The Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), in partnership with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), has unveiled a new residential taekwondo program in Bellary, aimed at nurturing athletes for Olympic competition.

This initiative has selected 24 athletes—12 men and 12 women—aged between 16 and 26, identified through a comprehensive scouting effort across the nation. The program is designed to create a high-performance pathway for India's top talents as they prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, according to a recent announcement.

Innocean has also provided support for this initiative, helping to launch the project and committing to partial funding over the next two years.

Despite an increase in participation, India has yet to win a medal in taekwondo at the Olympics or World Championships. This program aims to close that gap by offering athletes elite coaching, structured training, and world-class support systems.

Over the last four months, IIS, in collaboration with SAI, has executed a multi-phase talent identification process. This included scouting at three national championships and conducting two selection camps, assessing over 200 athletes based on their performance, potential, and readiness for high-performance training.

The selection process was enhanced by the involvement of renowned experts, including two-time Olympic champion Jade Jones and world champion Jaouad Achab, along with Toni Tomas and Lovre Brecic, who played significant roles in evaluating the athletes.

David Arturo Davis Diaz will serve as the head coach, overseeing daily training and athlete development, while Gary Hall, the High Performance Director at IIS, will guide the program. Hall has previously implemented a successful high-performance model in the UK that contributed to Olympic medal achievements.

Gary Hall expressed his enthusiasm about the program's launch, stating, “I am truly excited and delighted with the progress we have made in advancing the talent identification programme. We have successfully taken it through multiple phases, starting in Assam, followed by the Federation Cup, the Jaipur selections, and the Patna state trials. Along the way, we’ve conducted several talent development sessions, including an intensive camp at IIS last week.”

He added, “The level of talent we’re seeing is extremely promising. While there is still a great deal of hard work ahead, we have brought in some outstanding coaches and support staff who will help accelerate this journey. Overall, I am very encouraged by the potential this programme holds.”

Manisha Malhotra, President of IIS, expressed her gratitude to the Sports Authority of India and its Director General, Hari Ranjan Rao, for their unwavering support. She noted, “This programme would not have been possible without their backing. We look forward to strengthening this partnership and working together to develop world-class taekwondo athletes.”

She further stated, “With Gary Hall, who played a key role in Great Britain’s success in taekwondo on the world stage, joining IIS as High Performance Director, expanding into the sport was a natural step forward. We are immensely pleased to introduce taekwondo as our latest residential programme at IIS, coming just weeks after the official launch of rowing.”