Multiple Firsts on Last Day of Cadet Championships

SOFIA, Bulgaria (Jul. 31, 2022)

The World Taekwondo Cadet Championships drew to a close today with a number of new records set on the final day.

Iran continued its strong form in the championships winning two gold medals, while Côte d’Ivoire, Korea and Thailand all won one each.

History was made by Israel when Lipaz Hajama won bronze in the W+59kg - the country’s first ever medal at the cadet level. And Georgia’s Nika Gogoberidze’s silver in the M-61kg was his country’s first medal in any World Taekwondo competition.

Iran’s Mohammad Mehd Saadati won the first gold of the day in the M-49kg as he beat Eun-seok Lee from Korea, 2-0.

Thosiri Singthong continued the Thai women’s team’s impressive form at the event as she secured gold against Iran’s

Parnian Saki in the W-37kg.

With Korea heading for a top-place finish in the males overall standings, Keon-woo Kim added another gold to their tally as he beat Belgium’s Yassine El Haddaoui 2-1 in the final of the M-57kg.

Côte d’Ivoire’s Kimi Laurene Ossin win came at the expense of Thailand’s Suphaphon Srimahathat, who she beat 2-0 in the final of the W+59kg.

The final bout of the day saw Radin Zeinali from Iran win gold in the M-61kg with victory over Georgia’s Nika Gogoberidze.

And that was it for the Cadets 2022. The 2023 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships will be held in the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Awards:

Most Valuable Player Men: Guillermo Manuel Cortes (Mexico) M-41kg

Most Valuable Player Women: Laylo Khasanova (Uzbekistan) W-41kg

Women’s Team’s Standing: Iran, Thailand, Korea, Uzbekistan, Côte d’Ivoire

Men’s Team Standing: Korea, Iran, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Thailand

Best Men’s Team Coach: Han-sam Hwang (Korea)

Best Women’s Team Coach: Mohammadian Masoumeh (Iran)

Best Male Referee: Gyeong-seop Park (Korea)

Best Female Referee: Aygul Abdullayeva (Azerbaijan)

Fighting Spirit Award: Ukraine

Active Participation Award: Chinese Taipei