Taekwondo – Un encadrement de très haut niveau

**Tahiti prepares for 2027 Pacific Games with elite taekwondo coaching staff**

**TAHITI** – The Polynesia Taekwondo federation is intensifying its preparations for the 2027 Pacific Games, securing high-level technical expertise to train its senior and youth selections.

Under the leadership of federation president Alfred Lai Koun Sing, the organization has brought in two prominent international figures: Philippe Pinerd, a former elite French taekwondo athlete and Olympic-level national team coach, and Diogo Freire, a coach for the Brazilian national team.

The initiative is supported by the “Ambition 2027” program, a device provided by the COPF (Comité Olympique de Polynésie Française) to assist with the costs of bringing in international experts. According to Lai Koun Sing, the federation has established several international conventions with various countries to facilitate training exchanges and access to diverse coaching methodologies.

**Expertise from Brazil and France**
Diogo Freire, an expert in functional evaluation and biomechanics, is currently leading an eight-day training camp for the Tahitian pre-selection team. Freire, whose Brazilian team achieved world championship success this year, noted the potential of the local athletes. “I have observed quality in the elite level,” Freire said. “The athletes are receptive, showing willingness, commitment, and motor quality.”

Philippe Pinerd, who has been involved with Tahitian taekwondo since 2000, has relocated to Tahiti for the past three months. His role extends beyond the 2027 Pacific Games, with a focus on the 2027 World Championships for cadet, junior, and senior categories. Pinerd indicated he is considering a long-term commitment to the region, citing the “significant local potential.” He noted that the athletes are showing measurable progress, particularly in the fluidity of their exchanges and their overall athletic development.

**Selection and Outlook**
The current Tahitian pre-selection squad consists of 16 starters and 16 alternates. The final roster size remains subject to the Pacific Games Council’s (PGC) decision on the number of weight categories, which will be either eight or sixteen.

Among the athletes expected to compete are Rahiti Iorss, who secured both individual and team titles at the Oceania championships, and Kawehi Iorss.

The federation continues its efforts to structure its high-level program, with a local competition scheduled for this Saturday at the Excelsior sports hall to showcase the depth of its current talent pool.

Article and image source: tahiti-infos.com