Bhubaneswar: Students from across India gathered to take part in the National Taekwondo Championship at Railway Indoor Stadium here on Thursday.

More than 500 participants from 265 schools from eight zones and abroad affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education are taking part in the championship. Boys and girls in the under 14, 17 and 19 categories will vye for gold, silver and bronze.

The inaugural ceremony, held at the Delhi Public School (DPS), Kalinga, was attended by the board's regional officer Manoj Kumar Srivastava. In his speech, Srivastava encouraged the students to be the ambassadors of goodwill and asked them to win medals and hearts.

Principal Anuradha Rakshit highlighted the importance of martial arts in training the body, mind and spirit. "Taekwondo helps to develop self-esteem by boosting physical and mental strength. We are hopeful that the sport will build confidence in students and encourage them to succeed and take control of their lives," she said.

A cultural programme was organised at the inaugural ceremony, where the DPS Kalinga students presented state folk dance and martial art forms.

"People in the state are becoming health conscious. They are exploring new forms of exercises. This is evident as youngsters are taking interest in taekwondo not only as a sport, but also as a fitness option," said Sudipta Nanda, who hosts a number of taekwondo events in the state.

A number of players from the state have recently won medals in taekwondo championships across the country. This apart, martial arts events are being regularly hosted at various locations across the state. Odia actor Arindam Roy is also promoting the sport.

"I have been practising the sport since childhood. But, it is not just about kicking and punching. It instils discipline and also provides self-defence," he said.