Guwahati: Two-time Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones of Great Britain is leading a high-performance Taekwondo talent identification and development camp in Guwahati. The camp is being held at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium and was launched on Sunday, January 18, by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam, in collaboration with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS).
The camp will run until January 22 and is part of a long-term effort to identify and prepare India’s next generation of elite Taekwondo athletes for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Along with Jade Jones, the programme includes Jaouad Achab of Belgium, a World and European Champion, and Gary Hall, High Performance Director at IIS. The initiative aims to scout promising young female Taekwondo athletes from Assam and the North-East, while also improving coaching standards through exposure to modern high-performance systems.
A total of 84 athletes and 22 coaches from Assam are taking part in the five-day camp. The camp includes a talent identification phase followed by a high-performance masterclass. Athletes are assessed on technical skills, physical fitness, and competitive potential. Coaches are trained in international best practices, tactical planning, and athlete development methods.
Speaking about her experience in Assam, Jade Jones said,
“It has been a great experience here in Assam. I have seen some very good athletes and I am genuinely impressed. There are definitely a few athletes who, with the right support and guidance, can reach a very high level. There is a lot of young talent, and with better tactical awareness and more exposure through initiatives like this, they can improve quickly. Congratulations to the Government of Assam. This is an amazing initiative and it has been a big success so far.”
The camp is part of a structured international development plan designed by IIS. Athletes identified in the regional trials will move to a two-week training and assessment camp at IIS. This will be followed by a two-month advanced training block in Europe, a four-week high-performance camp in South Korea, and finally selection into the full-time IIS Taekwondo High-Performance Programme.
Gary Hall said the initiative reflects a clear Olympic vision.
“India’s women athletes have consistently performed at the Olympic level, winning medals in the last four Games. With Los Angeles 2028 in focus, we are identifying athletes who have shown promise and giving them the exposure and systems needed to succeed globally. Assam and the North-East remain one of our most important regions for Taekwondo talent.”
The initiative positions Assam as a growing combat sports hub in the North-East and strengthens the regional pathway into India’s elite Taekwondo ecosystem, supporting the country’s Olympic ambitions.
