Sports therapy open kicks off

The inaugural Taiwan Exercise Recovery Technique Open is being held in Taoyuan this weekend, bringing together almost 100 practitioners from Taiwan and elsewhere in Asia, organizers said yesterday.

The competition, also referred to as the Taiwan Sports Recovery Championship, is taking place alongside the International Sports Massage Master Forum at National Taiwan Sport University.

The competition has attracted participants from Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and Malaysia and is the first of its kind to be held in Taiwan, according to its organizers, the Taiwan Exercise Recovery Association.

Matthew Chalon, a Canadian sports physical therapist, demonstrates a technique at a news conference in Taipei on Monday.

Photo: CNA

The 95 entrants are competing in four categories: sport-specific massage, freestyle manual techniques, tool-assisted methods and sports aromatherapy.

At a news conference in Taipei on Monday, Canadian sports massage specialist Matthew Chalons, who has more than 13 years of practical and teaching experience, said physical fatigue accumulates during training, making recovery essential to helping the body adapt and prepare for its next challenge.

The association said it hoped the event would provide a platform for practitioners to exchange knowledge, build up Taiwan’s sports recovery industry and expand their international connections.

The association certified Taiwan’s first group of qualified sports massage competition judges during the news conference.

The judges completed training and assessments developed to improve professional standards and credibility in Taiwan’s sports massage and bodywork sectors, the association said.