Record Breaking World Para-Taekwondo Championships to Get Underway in Turkey

The world’s very best para-taekwondo athletes gathered in Samsun today ahead of tomorrow’s 6th WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships which is set to be the biggest in the Paralympic sport’s history.

Over 130 male and female athletes from 38 countries across all five International Paralympic Committee (IPC) regions will compete in the WTF’s para-taekwondo flagship event. This is an increase on last year’s World Championships in Moscow and showcases the advancements the WTF has made in growing global participation. The WTF has worked tirelessly to spread participation and the representation of many countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Comoros, Nigeria, and Niger, at the Championships for the first time demonstrates the progress that has been made.

The Championships have been assigned the highest possible ranking under the WTF’s ranking system – a G-8 class ranking – giving athletes the opportunity to gain the most ranking points. Athletes with a neurological impairment (P30 classes) will compete at the Championships for the very first time in para-taekwondo poomsae competitions as the WTF continues to ensure that the sport is accessible to all. Intellectually disabled athletes (P20 class) will also compete in para-taekwondo poomsae competitions while the majority of athletes at the Championships will compete in para-taewkondo kyorugi competitions– the discipline which was included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games sports programme earlier this year. IWAS, INAS and CPISRA have all officially recognised the Championships as the WTF continues to work with the IOSDs to learn from their experience and expertise in offering the best competitions for athletes of all impairments.

Speaking on the eve of the Championships, WTF President Chungwon Choue said:

"We are delighted that we have broken previous records for participation here at the 6th WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships and it is a testament to the ever-growing popularity of our sport around the world. Speaking to athletes, you can really feel their passion and their pride at being able to represent their countries at such a world-class event. Our friends here in Samsun have done an excellent job at preparing for this Championships and everything is in place for an excellent event.

"It is during events like this that you can really see that the work we are doing is paying off. We know that there is a lot of room for improvement but each year we are seeing records being broken and more athletes from new countries getting involved in the sport. We must continue to build momentum and provide the best experience for our athletes and fans so that in 2020 we are able to deliver the best possible sport for the global Paralympic audience."

For more information, contact:

Justin Shea

+44 7917 825412

sg@wtf.org

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