Assam has taken a decisive step towards strengthening India’s Olympic ambitions in Taekwondo, as two-time Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones of Great Britain leads a high-performance talent identification and development camp in Guwahati.
The five-day programme, launched on Sunday at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium, is being conducted by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam, in collaboration with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), and will run until January 22.
The initiative forms part of a long-term vision aimed at identifying and preparing India’s next generation of elite Taekwondo athletes with a clear focus on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. By bringing Olympic-level expertise directly to the North-East, the programme signals a shift towards decentralised, region-focused high-performance development.
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Jones, one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of women’s Taekwondo, is joined by Belgian World and European Champion Jaouad Achab and Gary Hall, High Performance Director at IIS. Together, they are spearheading a comprehensive programme that blends talent scouting with advanced coaching education, ensuring that both athletes and coaches benefit from exposure to international best practices.
A total of 84 athletes and 22 coaches from across Assam are participating in the camp. The structure has been carefully designed to combine a talent identification phase with an intensive high-performance masterclass. Young female athletes are being evaluated across multiple parameters, including technical execution, physical attributes, movement efficiency, and competitive temperament. At the same time, local coaches are being trained in modern tactical frameworks, athlete monitoring, and long-term development models used at the elite international level.
Speaking about the quality of athletes on display, Jones expressed optimism about the potential she witnessed during the early days of the camp. “It’s been a great experience here in Assam,” she said. “I’ve seen some very good quality athletes and have been genuinely impressed. There are definitely a few athletes here 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 very quickly.”
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Jones also praised the commitment shown by the state authorities. “A massive congratulations to the government of Assam. They have put up an amazing initiative, and it has been a massive success so far,” she added, underlining the importance of institutional backing in building sustainable sporting pathways.
The Guwahati camp is not a standalone exercise but the first stage of a structured international development roadmap created by IIS. Athletes identified through the regional trials will progress to a two-week training and assessment camp at the IIS campus. From there, selected athletes will undertake a two-month advanced training block in Europe, followed by a four-week high-performance camp in South Korea, one of the global powerhouses of Taekwondo. The final stage of this pathway will see the most promising athletes inducted into the full-time IIS Taekwondo High-Performance Programme.
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Gary Hall emphasised that the initiative is rooted in a clear Olympic strategy. “India’s women athletes have consistently delivered at the Olympic level, winning medals at the last four Games,” he said. “With Los Angeles 2028 in focus, we are identifying athletes who have already 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.”
Beyond immediate talent identification, the programme also aims to elevate the standard of coaching in the region. By working closely with international experts, local coaches are gaining insights into periodisation, performance analysis, injury prevention, and psychological preparation areas that often determine success at the highest level.
For Assam, the camp represents a broader statement of intent. Traditionally known for producing athletes across combat sports, the state is steadily positioning itself as a high-performance hub in the North-East. By integrating global expertise with local talent, Assam is strengthening its role within India’s elite Taekwondo ecosystem and reinforcing its contribution to the country’s long-term Olympic ambitions.
As the camp progresses, the focus will remain on identifying athletes who not only show technical promise but also demonstrate the mindset and adaptability required for sustained success.
With Los Angeles 2028 firmly on the horizon, initiatives such as this underline a growing belief that India’s future Olympic medallists can emerge from every corner of the country provided the right systems are put in place early.
