CHESTER SPRINGS, PA — Master Son’s Eagle Taekwondo has earned national recognition after delivering a standout performance at the 37th New York State Governor’s Cup Taekwondo Championships, one of the largest and most competitive martial arts events in the region.
Held at Queens College, this year’s tournament brought together more than 1,000 athletes from across the United States, competing in breaking, Olympic-style sparring, and poomsae. The event drew an unusually deep field, marking it as one of the tournament’s strongest years in recent memory.
Master Son’s Eagle Taekwondo, led by Grand Master Joohong Son and Master Hanna Kim, secured 17 medals — six gold, seven silver, and four bronze — while earning praise for its athletes’ discipline, focus, and sportsmanship. The team’s performance ultimately earned the academy the event’s Best School of the Year Award, a recognition reserved for programs demonstrating both competitive excellence and leadership impact.
The Chester Springs-based academy fielded a roster of determined young athletes: Nehan Madankumar, David Son, Esther Son, Twisha Dachepally, Adhvik Shankar, Sahanan Ishar, Avanthika Shankar, and Viaan Shivakumar. Each delivered consistent results across multiple categories, reflecting a year-round training schedule built on precision and personal accountability.
Grand Master Son, an 8th-dan instructor and former member of the Korea National Demonstration Team, said the academy’s strength lies in its long-term focus on character development. “Our mission is to raise students who are strong both physically and mentally — athletes who respect others, challenge themselves, and grow into global leaders,” he said. “Medals are the result, not the purpose.”
That philosophy appears to be a defining factor in the team’s success. Coaches emphasize daily responsibility, discipline, and humility, reinforcing habits that transfer directly to competitive performance. Tournament organizers noted the team’s unity and professionalism, highlighting them as distinguishing traits among the event’s hundreds of competitors.
The Governor’s Cup results represent a milestone for the Chester Springs academy, enhancing its reputation as one of the most elite Taekwondo programs in the country. With state and national tournaments ahead, Master Son’s Eagle Taekwondo plans to continue developing athletes who excel both on the mat and beyond it.
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