Turkish Competitor Dies at World Taekwondo Event
Stock Taekwondo Competition
Seyithan Akbalik, a 21 year old Taekwondo competitor, died during a recent competition in Luxor, Egypt. Akbalik was known to have a heart condition and even took a multi-year break from competition in order to avoid potential health complications.
As reported by Inside the Games:
“The 21-year-old, European Junior champion in 2009, collapsed during a match against a Slovenian player in the men’s under 63 kilogram category and was immediately rushed to the Luxor International Hospital, where he later passed away.
Akbalik was representing his Club from Izmir, Ulastirma Spor Kulubu, in the Luxor Open and was returning to competition after having been out for over two years due to the detection of a heart problem.”
This is a truly unfortunate event as the TKD world has lost a spirited competitor. Despite air evacuation and prompt medical service Akbalik did not respond to resuscitation attempts.
In the wake of this tragic event it will be typical for all parties involved to decide where blame lies and determine accountability. Family members will most likely look toward both the event coordinators and the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) for allowing Akbalik to participate despite pre-existing conditions. Ultimately the WTF and coordinators will suggest that participation lies with each competitor, and there is no doubt that WTF utilized liability waivers for every single competitor. It is unlikely aggrieved parties will be able to successfully pursue legal compensation.
This story is a lesson for everyone involved in the martial arts. Injury and even death can happen at a moment’s notice; it is our duty to be vigilant and err on the side of caution. Business owners and tournament operators also need to understand the need for proper waivers, insurance policies, and education of participants on their rights.
Taekwondo School Insurance
Taekwondo is one of the most popular martial arts on the planet. Most towns in the USA have at least a few Taekwondo schools with students ranging from toddlers to seniors.
If you are the proud operator of a TKD Dojang, it is in your best interest to learn about your insurance options.
Importance of Insurance for TKD Schools
Having proper safety protocols at a martial arts school is one of the first and most important phases of development. However, no amount of padding and oversight can protect students from harm with 100% certainty. Taekwondo is an active, potentially violent endeavor and any time those levels of impact are introduced the possibility of injury is present. Even for studios that engage in no sparring at all, injury is still a risk. Protection against those rare circumstances can save a school from having to shut it’s doors.
One thing all instructors must consider is the propensity of students and parents to sue. We live in a litigious society and parents are extremely protective of their children. Every instructor should understand that no matter how good their relationship with parents and adult students, of those individuals believe they have been wronged and could potentially receive monetary benefit from their incident, they are likely to pursue the matter through legal channels.
How Much Taekwondo Insurance Might Cost
One of the earliest and most important questions we get from school owners is in regards to the cost of insurance. There is no blanket answer for that as the size and location of the school can vary the amount of coverage needed and the costs associated with it.
We have developed a free quote tool that can provide you with near-instant results for finding out the approximate cost of coverage for your school. Click here to visit the free quote tool.
Why Choose KarateInsurance.com for TKD Coverage
Despite it’s name, karateinsurance.com covers much more than just karate. In fact, we help schools from many different styles and backgrounds. We have many Taekwondo schools that utilize our school coverage as well as our event coverage.
We provide a personal touch helping you throughout your insurance process. We can answer your questions, get you affordable rates, and provide you with a reliable insurance umbrella with proven reliability.
If you think we might be right for you, reach out to us or utilize our free quote tool.
