Taekwondo Magazine 2022 by Dunsar Media Company Limited

GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP

211 +1 World Taekwondo has 211 Member National Associations worldwide. The “+1” stands for refugees.

Members

Refugees

EUROPE Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia & Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Great Britain Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy

Kosovo Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Faroe Islands North Macedonia Malta Republic of Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine Vatican

Malaysia Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Oman Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore Sri Lanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand Timor-Leste Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen

AFRICA

PAN AMERICA Antigua & Barbuda Argentina Aruba Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Bolivia Brazil British Virgin Islands Canada Cayman Islands Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominican Republic Cuba Dominica Ecuador El Salvador French Guiana Grenada Guadeloupe

ASIA Afghanistan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Chinese Taipei Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Iraq Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Korea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Macao

Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Martinique Mexico Curacao Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico St. Lucia St. Kitts & Nevis Suriname St. Vincent & the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Uruguay U.S.A. Virgin Islands, US Venezuela

Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Cote d’Ivoire Congo Djibouti D.R. of the Congo Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Lesotho

Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Niger Nigeria Rwanda Sao Tome & Principe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa Sudan South Sudan Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zimbabwe Zambia

OCEANIA American Samoa Australia Cook Islands Fiji French Polynesia Guam Kiribati Marshall Islands Micronesia Nauru

New Caledonia New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu

President’s Message From ‘Reset,’ through ‘Rethink,’ to ‘Restart’ Dear Friends,

‘Innovation in Motion’

I hope that 2021 has been positive for you, the global family of Taekwondoin, especially in terms of your health and safety. From World Taekwondo’s perspective, 2021 has seen a marked improvement in terms of operations over 2020. First and foremost, we celebrated Taekwondo’s sixth consecutive Olympic Games in Tokyo. Without a doubt, Taekwondo has evolved into one of the fairest, most transparent, and most innovative sports in the world. Taekwondo’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme is testament to our global standing within the Olympic Movement. In addition, 2021 witnessed the long-awaited debut of Taekwondo in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. As testament to our succcess, Para Taekwondo will expand to 10 medal events in Paris 2024 - four more than the six we had in Tokyo 2020. Through Taekwondo, refugees were able to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As part of that effort, we worked closely with various organisations and governments to bring Taekwondo-related individuals out of the difficult situation in Afghanistan. Despite the pandemic, World Taekwondo continues to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Olympic Agenda. This year saw the first-ever World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, promote gender equality. Also, our online open poomsae competitions promoted health and fitness globally. In terms of global visibility, Taekwondo’s brand was elevated immensely through the fantastic performances of the World

Taekwondo Demonstration Team on the hit TV show, America’s Got Talent. Taking Taekwondo to a new audience of millions, the team reached the season final. And we continue to expand. We were proud to welcome our 211th Member National Association: the Athletica Vaticana – Vatican Taekwondo. In the process, we became just the second sport to be recognised by the Vatican. I also had the honor to be re-elected by you, our Member National Associations, as your president once more. From “Reset” in 2020 and “Rethinking” in 2021, we now press the “Restart” buton in 2022. We have major events lined up, as we look to organise the World Taekwondo Championships, World Taekwondo Junior and Cadet Championships, and World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships this year. World Taekwondo will continue to inspire innovation and connect with global Taekwondoin with the launch of Virtual Taekwondo, which combines physical fitness and gaming. The promise of this technology could be profound. Over the coming year, Taekwondo will undergo improvements to become more dynamic, athletic, and exciting. We will achieve all this as we strive to be one of the best governed international federations. There is much to look forward to. Taekwondo is where it is today because of our 211 Member National Associations. Thank you for your dedication and passion for our beloved sport. Stay safe and I wish all Taekwondoin a happy 2022! Chungwon Choue President, World Taekwondo

TAEKWONDO Official Publication of World Taekwondo ISSUE NO. 109 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

Global Membership

President’s Message

PART

COMPETITIONS

AROUND WT

Taekwondo 3rd Biggest Sport in Tokyo 2020 Refugee Team

Gjessing, Garcia Lopez Rise to the Occasion

144

Vatican Joins WT as 211th Member

Virtual Referee Training Held Ahead of Tokyo 2020

Asia Victorious on Final Day of Para Taekwondo

146

WT Council Proposes Changes to Elevate Governance to Highest Level

Online Coaches’Workshop Held Ahead of Tokyo 2020

Gjessing’s Dream Becomes Reality at Long Last

147

Council Meets Prior to Virtual General Assembly

Taekwondo in Tokyo 2020: Where to Aim your Eyes

WT, THF Head Congratulates Refugee Star

148

Chungwon Choue Re-Elected World Taekwondo President

‘Tech-kwondo’ on Show at Tokyo 2020

Choue Meets Afghan Paralympian

149

Elected Council Members

Taekwondo vs. COVID-19: Lessons from the Lost Years

Tokyo 2020: 5 Lessons Learned

150

New Officials Appointed at First-Ever Council Orientation

Best Foot Forward

Paralympic Games Gallery

152

Competition Draw, Team Leaders Meeting Takes Place

104 After Tokyo Triumph, Para Taekwondo Expands at Paris 2024

World Taekwondo Hosts Continental Union and Committee Meeting to Facilitate Greater Cooperation

Italy and Thailand Strike Gold On Day 1

106 New-Look Para Taekwondo Takes Stage at 2021 World Championships

Day 1 Afterview: Elite Players, Golden RESULTS

108 Paralympic Revenge for Israel and Mongolia

USA and Uzbekistan Top Podiums On Day 2

110 Clash of the Super Rivals

Day 2 Afterview: Young Warriors, New Stars

112 Crazy Day:' Double Amputee Kicks His Way to Golden Glory

Bach In The Park

118 Youth, Arise! Teens Surge on Day 1 of European Championships

Croatia And ROC Take First Taekwondo Olympic Golds

120 Great Britain, Russia, Turkey Share Honors on Europeans’ Day 2

Day 3 Afterview: Personal Loss, Olympic Gain

121 Golds for Great Britain, Russia and Belarus on Day 3 of Euros

ROC, Serbia Seize Tokyo's Last Golds

122 Senegal Hosts African Championships for First Time

Day 4 Afterview: Slavic Triumphs

124 Epic Odyssey across Africa

PART

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

186

Crown Prince of Fujairah donates USD100,000 to Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation

188

Refugee Athlete Wael Fawaz Al-Farraj Competes Abroad for First Time

190

Young Refugees from Camps in Jordan Connect via Sports

192

WT, THF, Reaffirm Commitment During First World Refugee Forum

194

THF Official Conquers Kilimanjaro to Raise Money for Refugees

195

World's ‘7 Summits’ Eyed in High Altitude Fund-Raising Venture

196

Tiny Taekwondoin is Youngest Refugee to Tie on a Black Belt

154

2022 World Taekwondo Championships Awarded to Cancun

198

THF Board Meets, Appoints Cito New Member

156

Meet WT’s Latest Commission, Committee Chairs

200

158

Prominent VIPs Address WT Peace Festival

ADF, Taekwondo Cares, Offer Discipline, Skills, Confidence to Vulnerable in 4 Asian Nations

162

Taekwondo Joins 2021 DMZ Peace Festival

202

THF and Italian Taekwondo Charity to Work Together

164

Ide Honored with Order of Merit of Africa

203

Contest Held for Amateur Taekwondo Videos Produced around the World

165

Srivikorn Honored by Korean Government

203

Sports Minister Recognizes ADF on Taekwondo Day

166

Italian Federation Bags Taekwondo Day Award

204

Taekwondo Accelerates Refugee Inclusion in France

167

Russian Taekwondo Awarded after String of Global Successes

168

Fouly Posthumously Awarded Medal by Korean Government

206

Event Clendar

169

World Taekwondo Mourns Singapore's Milan Kwee

170

WT Gender Equity and Women Leadership Forum Charts Path For Female Participation

172

Zimbabwe’s Teenage Taekwondo Trainer Natsiraishe Maritsa Wins IOC Women and Sport Award for Africa

Sport for All: Medal Spectrum Maxes out at Tokyo 2020

126 Asian Taekwondo Championships Results

Best of 2021

127 Pan American Taekwondo Championships Results

Olympic Games Gallery

128 Women’s Open Championships: ‘Historic Decision’ for Saudi Arabia

Taekwondo confirmed for LA 2028 Olympics

130 WT’s First All-Women War Gets Underway in Riyadh

Welcome to 2021 Para Taekwondo

132 WT's Women Warriors Battle it out on Day 2

175

WT-FISU University Sports and Peace Forum Held

Refugee Para Player is on Track for Tokyo

132 Wide Medal Spread at Inaugural Women’s Open

176

Taekwondo’s Got Talent!

‘We Have Wings’ 2020 Paralympic Games Open

134 Cyber Sparring Takes Taekwondo into Tomorrow

180

Demo Team Win Golden Buzzer on France’s Got Talent

Joint Paralympic Workshop Held for Coaches and Officials

136 Goyang , Korea, to Host 2022's World Poomsae Championships

181

Demo Team Take Flight at Aerospace Show

Inaugural Paralympic Head of Team Meeting Takes Place

137 Goyang, WT Clasp Hands

182

WT Continental Union Presidents' Messages

Afghan Athlete Smashes Odds to Fight at Paralympics

138 Online Poomsae Challenge I : Virtual Poomsae Storms Cyperspace

Americas Triumph as Taekwondo Crowns First Paralympians

140 World Taekwondo Poomsae Open Challenge Series: A Spectacular Season Final

PART 1

COMPETITIONS

Taekwondo 3rd Biggest Sport in Tokyo 2020 Refugee Team 10

Three Taekwondo athletes will compete for the Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020, it was announced by the IOC on June 8. Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin (W-57kg), Dina Pouryounes Langeroudi (W-49kg) and Abdullah Sediqi (M-68kg) have been selected for the Refugee Olympic Team based on sport performance, confirmed refugee status and balanced representation across sports regions and genders. The full composition of the Refugee Olympic Team was approved by the IOC Executive Board. Their inclusion in the Refugee Team for Tokyo 2020 means that Taekwondo is the third most represented sport on the team, after Athletics and Judo.

“We are extremely proud that Kimia, Dina and Abdullah have been selected to compete for the Refugee Olympic Team at Tokyo 2020,” World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said. “We have no doubt that their performances at Tokyo 2020 will inspire millions of people around the world and help to generate greater awareness of the refugee crisis our world faces.” World Taekwondo has demonstrated a long-term commitment to supporting refugees and displaced persons. Refugee athletes compete at World Taekwondo events and through the ongoing efforts of the affiliated Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF), thousands of refugees and displaced persons have received Taekwondo coaching.

SEOUL, Korea (Jun. 9, 2021)

SEOUL, Korea (Jul. 8, 2021)

Virtual Referee Training Held Ahead of Tokyo 2020

Online Coaches’ Workshop Held Ahead of Tokyo 2020 World Taekwondo today hosted an online workshop for coaches whose countries have qualified for Tokyo 2020 in order to brief them on the latest information and protocols ahead. Coaches from 61 countries attended the workshop which was opened by World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. Technical Commission Chair Inseon Kim then provided a tutorial on nine skills of successful coaches. Medical Chair Dae Hyoun Jeong delivered an update on medical preparations and COVID-19 protocols for the Games. Referee Chair Songchul Kim explained the effective use of Instant Video Replays. Games Chair Mohamed Shaaban gave an overview of the competition format and schedule. The workshop concluded with a Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee representative providing an information package on the upcoming Olympics. President Choue said: “I would like to first ac-

World Taekwondo today hosted its Online Referee Training Course for Tokyo 2020 as it aims to ensure the highest level of officiating at the Olympic Games. The training course was opened by World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. The 30 referees (15 male and 15 female) from 30 NOCs who have been selected for Tokyo 2020 attended the training. Presentations were given by Technical Commission Chair Inseon Kim on understanding the role of ethics in sport and competition; by Medical Chair Dae Hyoun Jeong on COVID-19 protocols, recognizing a medical emergency and medical preparation at Tokyo 2020; by Referee Chair Songchul Kim on planning for various scenarios; by Technical Delegate Phillippe Bouedo on Olympic job descriptions for officials and the Olympic competition environment; and finally by Games Chair

knowledge your patience and dedication over the past year. It has not been easy for everyone but especially for your athletes who have trained so hard and waited an extra year to be in the Games. “I wish to assure you that World Taekwondo continues to bring fairness and transparency to our sport. Therefore for the first time ever, the 4D replay system will be used at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Even though we suffered financially from the ongoing pandemic, we decided to invest in the system at our own cost to ensure the best athletes win in the fairest possible way. “If there is a winner, there will also be someone who loses. Whether you are the winner or loser, we need to accept the results with grace and respect each other.” A moment of silence was held for Jin Yung Kim, coach of the Uzbekistan team, who sadly passed away on June 15.

Mohamed Shaaban on watch-outs during Olympic live conditions and the procedure for random weigh-ins and schedules. There was also a short introduction on the 4D replay system which will be used at an Olympic Games for the first time in Tokyo. “At World Taekwondo we pride ourselves on the integrity, quality and consistency of our referees and with the introduction of technological innovations to assist our referees in past years, we have aimed to remove human error from our competitions,” said Choue. “But we still rely on referees to make clear and objective judgements which allow our athletes to achieve the results they deserve.” On June 10, the IOC will host a workshop on Preventing Manipulation of Competition. World Taekwondo will be attending the webinar as part of its commitment to following the best practices for integrity in sport.

Taekwondo in Tokyo 2020: Where to Aim your Eyes CHIBA, Japan (Jul. 21, 2021)

131 of World’s Elite Confirmed for Tokyo 2020. A total of 131 of the world’s best Taekwondo athletes have been confirmed to compete at Tokyo 2020. Sixty one countries will be represented plus the Refugee Olympic Team as a further endorsement of Taekwondo’s universality. With such strength across the field, it is expected to be a sensational Olympic Taekwondo competition. But, it will be unpredictable. When the world’s top Taekwondo players meet on the Olympic field of play at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo, Japan, on July 24, brace for surprises. Last year, the Taekwondo world stopped functioning due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. That near-total clampdown on international competition means Tokyo 2020 could be the most unpredictable Olympic competition ever: Athletes and their coaches will be unfamiliar with their opponents’ latest fighting form, fitness and techniques. Even so, there are some elite fighters Taekwondo fans will have a special eye on - and some fights they would love to see take place. Who are these fighters, what are these fights - and which are the top teams in the game at present? Eye on History Two fighters will be looking to write sporting history. Either – or both – could emerge as the first Taekwondo athlete ever to earn not two, but three Olympic golds. In the W-49kg category, Team China’s Jingyu Wu, who struck gold in Beijing 2008 and London 2012, faces a particularly steep challenge. After failing to reach the semis in Rio, Wu announced her retirement and gave birth to a daughter. But then, to the astonishment of the Taekwondo world, she came back. Defying age, motherhood and the challenge of fighting back to the top from low in the rankings, Wu – also known as “Superkicker” – is about as inspirational as an athlete as you will find in any sport. But to mount the highest podium, she may have to face Thailand’s dominant Panipak Wongpattanakit. The other player attempting the same feat, though in the W-57kg category, is Jade Jones. The superstar of Team GB and one of the best known faces in the women’s division, Jones took the top medal in London - then repeated that feat in Rio. Brimming with self-belief, superbly conditioned and coached to the max, Jones is a very, very serious contender for a third consecutive gold. But like Wu, she faces serious competition – particularly in the shape of China’s impressive Lijin Zhou. 14

Olympic Jinx There is no fighter in the sport more admired than Team Korea’s Dae-hoon Lee – as proven by the fact that he has lifted the peer-voted “Player of the Year” award more times than any other athlete, male or female. Brilliantly conditioned, tactically sound and highly experienced, this relentless kicking machine in the M-68kg class has won everything else under the sun. Lee is a three-time world champ and has won a record 12 Grand Prix, as well as two Grand Slams. What is missing from his medal cabinet is the top medal at the Olympics: He took silver in London and bronze in Rio. And over the last two years, Lee has been overshadowed within Team Korea by his junior - the near unbeatable Jun Jang, in the M-58kgs. This year, can Lee retain his name as Korea’s top gun and crown his ambitions with gold – or will his Olympic jinx strike again? African Fury Rio 2016 marked the finest-ever Olympic performance for African Taekwondo. Blazing that trail in spectacular fashion was the charismatic Cheick Sallah Cisse of Cote D’Ivoire. Cisse bought the stadium to its feet when he came from behind to grab gold in the very last second of the finals of the M-80kg division with a head kick. In Rio, his Cote D’Ivoire team mate in the women’s division, Ruth Gbagbi, won a credible bronze, but in recent years, has been storming through the W-67kg category. Wedding an indestructible physique to steamroller tactics and spectacular technique, you may count on Gbagbi to entertain the crowd - and very possibly delight her country and her continent with golden glory.

Men’s Dream Match When it comes to high-kicking, fast-fighting, all-action Taekwondo, the fight many fans would pay big money to see may well transpire in Chiba in the M-80kgs. In addition to Cisse, that category contains Maksim Khramtcov of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and Milad Beigi Harchegani of Azerbaijan. Both are precision engineered for Taekwondo: lean, leggy and tall. And both are crowd pleasers. The ROC player is one of the most exciting and joyful men in the game, deploying crafty and often unorthodox technique. The Azeri is equally spectacular, but showcases a beautiful, almost picture-perfect, style of textbook Taekwondo. If these two battle their way through to the finals, they could provide the finest match of Tokyo 2020. Women’s Grudge Match Arguably the bitterest rivalry in the game at present is that between China’s Shuyin Zheng and Great Britain’s Bianca Walkden in the W+67kg Zheng is the defending Olympic champ; Walkden is a three-time world champion. The Brit has won five Grand Prix and two Grand Slams; the Chinese has taken eight Grand Prix. The two have fought a see-saw, back-and-forth battle across the circuit in recent years. If these two do meet in the final, the outcome could well come down to coaching.

Tale of the Teams When it comes to national squads, Team Korea remains the gold standard in the sport, but Team China has, since 2016, been making leaps and bounds in Taekwondo and could feasibly snatch the top position in the medal table in Chiba. The ROC currently boasts a high-powered men’s team, while Great Britain, Turkey and Chinese Taipei have a range of strong contenders across the categories in the women’s division. Longtime taekwondo powerhouse Iran boasts strong prospects in the men’s -58kg and -68kg categories, while the little country that tends to punch above its weight at the Olympics – Serbia – is fielding Games medalists in both the W-49kg and W+67kg categories. Other teams to watch include Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Egypt and Mexico. A Very Special Team Finally, one team making its Olympic debut is Taekwondo’s three-person Refugee Team. Wish them luck!

CHIBA, Japan (Jul. 22, 2021)

‘Tech-kwondo’ on Show at Tokyo 2020 The sport gets new technology, a new look even a new competitive format - at the Olympic Games

The Taekwondo that will be contested at Tokyo 2020 will not be the same Taekwondo that was contested at Rio 2016 as the game continues to develop, improve and innovate. New players are joining the game, new technology is upgrading transparency, a new look is upgrading sports presentation and a new, high-impact format is being introduced as a showcase. Moreover, a new regulation is being implemented to ensure athletes’ wellbeing. Diehard fans, however, should not fret: The changes are evolutionary, not revolutionary. All these innovations will be on show when the action kicks off at the Makuhari Messe Hall A in Chiba, a seaside suburb of Tokyo, on July 24.

New Players Requiring no equipment beyond the human body, Taekwondo has long been one of the world’s most economical sports, offering developing nations realistic chances at Olympic glory. And in an initiative to empower the powerless – refugees and displaced persons – Taekwondo has been deployed in refugee camps in Jordan, Rwanda and Turkey. In Chiba, a new Taekwondo team will make its Olympic debut: The Refugee Olympic Team (EOR) comprises Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin (W-57kg), Dina Pouryounes (W-49kg) and Abdullah Sediqi (M-68kg). “Taekwondo is a sport that prioritizes inclusivity,” said World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “I know the world Taekwondo Family will embrace these athletes and cheer them on as they fight in the competition of their lives in Chiba.” New Technology Transparency is a core concept in both audience comprehension and sportive fairness. To optimize Taekwondo’s transparency, replays run over giant LED screens set up over and around the field of play. Video replays have two aims. Action replays engage the audience during the down time between rounds, while in16 16

match video replays allow review jury to carefully review contested point calls, using close-ups and slow-motion. And replays just got better - much better. In Chiba, a “4D” camera rig, employing 100 cameras, will make its Olympic debut. For the audience, this will enable action replays featuring the kind of visual effects pioneered in the science-fiction thriller “The Matrix.” For review jury, the rig’s vast array of cameras means there will be no blind spots hidden from their eyes as they assess contested points. New Look Olympic taekwondo players hone their physiques to a peak of athletic perfection, but these physical attributes are largely invisible to the audience - hidden by the baggy traditional uniform, or dobok, over which is worn blocky head guards and torso protectors. To upgrade sport presentation, a new uniform is being pioneered in Chiba. In a bow to tradition, it retains the white coloration and general design of the classic dobok. However, it is cut slimmer, to showcase the physiques of the wearers and to present a more streamlined silhouette. It also includes national flag designs on the pant leg for a splash of color. But it is not just about aesthetics. It is constructed of

high-tech, light-weight, highly breathable materials that will be less of a drag on the limbs of sweaty athletes as they do battle under the heat of the spotlights in Chiba. New Format A new competitive format will play out as a showcase alongside the regular matches in Chiba: A Mixed Gender Team Competition. Five teams – from China, Cote d’Ivoire, Iran, Japan and ROC – are entered in this non-medal event. Matches will take place each evening before the official bronze, silver and gold medal finals are contested. Each team comprises two male and two female athletes, weighing up to 135 kg for the women and up to 160kg for the men. The teams fight two, four-minute rounds. The first round is a traditional team match, in which fighters compete against their counterpart on the opposing team. The second round is a high-speed tag-team format, with coaches flagging replacements. It is important to note, however, that all combats only feature male vs male or female vs female: There are no actual mixed-gender fights. Taekwondo’s team format generally features harder, faster action that the more tactical and technical individual game. As such, it should win the sport a whole new swathe of fans via global TV coverage.

“It was so complex to put this into the Olympic Games,” said World Taekwondo Technical Delegate Philippe Bouedo - noting that Taekwondo is the only sport that will include a showcase event at Tokyo 2020. But the effort will be worth it. “It’s important to show the Olympic Family this standout competition – this exciting game,” Bouedo stressed. New Procedure Random weigh-ins are being introduced to the Taekwondo Olympic competition for the first time. Each weigh in will be conducted on the morning before the competition begins, in the weight categories being contested on that day. For each category of 16 or 17 players, six random weighins will be conducted. Athletes will be selected after choosing from a series of numbered balls. The random weigh-ins - which supplement regular weigh-ins – are designed to ensure that athletes do not engage in extreme weight-loss protocols, such as pre-weighin fasts that could endanger their long-term health. More broadly, the step also encourages athletes to fight in their most natural weight classes, rather than seeking to “make the cut” to compete in lighter categories.

CHIBA, Japan (Jul. 23, 2021)

Taekwondo vs. COVID-19: Lessons from the Lost Years Taekwondo has adapted to COVID-19, learned the necessary lessons, and in Chiba on Saturday, its athletes will charge out of the gates kicking with a force that has been pent up since the pandemic began. That was the message delivered by coaches and officials who attended the Head of Teams Meeting at the International Conference Hall attached to the Makuhari Messe Hall stadium – the venue for the Taekwondo competition at Tokyo 2020. Members of the community recalled the struggles they had endured in 2020, their dismay at the news that the Olympics was delayed, and how they kept their athletes’ motivation up in those dark months. Deep appreciation was conveyed toward the IOC, and towards the Japanese government and people, for holding these Games amid such challenging circumstances. And a few even saw some upside, in terms of lessons learned from the novel coronavirus pandemic that turned the world upside down.

Surviving the Pandemic, Preparing for the Olympics “In 2020, there was nothing – nothing!” recalled Musfata Cam of Turkey. “All the Taekwondo schools were closed training was forbidden.” “2020 was a disaster at the sport level, we could not travel, nothing went through,” added Karim Dighou, Team Australia coach. “Keeping everyone motivated was a challenge.” Central to that challenge were the lockdowns applied in many regions, cities and even countries. “During lockdown, we did online training,” Dighou added. “But high performance athletes and lockdown do not go together!” A core aspect of coaching and athlete preparation is intelligence -gathering and drawing up fight plans. That means reviewing competitors: Their techniques, their tactics, their strong points, their weak points. Given the lack of recent competitive activity, much of this pre-planning was impossible. This raises an obvious question: Are the teams ready for this Olympics? “I don’t know if we are 100 percent ready,” admitted Cam. “But all teams are the same.” Sport always has the capacity to surprise: underdogs can defeat customary victors, favorites can be toppled by unknowns. This year there could be more upsets than ever before - and that is not necessarily a bad thing. “Nobody knows what will happen,” said Cam. “But that is the spirit of the Olympics!” “It is going to be challenging,” added Juan Moreno, a Florida-based coach who is this year coaching Mexico. “But everyone is in the same boat.” 18 18

Lost Years Many – probably all – Taekwondo Olympians were dismayed to hear the news that Tokyo 2020 had been delayed for a year. “A lot of people don’t realize the sacrifices in time and energy made by the athletes,” said Jae Park of Canada. “They put their lives on hold for three or four years, some for 10-12 years, to get here.” “We lost, basically, two years,” said Moreno, referring to the competition schedule that was killed for 2020 and for most of 2021. “This means that junior athletes missed almost all of their junior careers.” As COVID-19 continued its 2020 rampage into 2021, fears arose that the event would be cancelled outright. “We thought Japan would be too afraid to hold the Games,” said Cam. That possibility would have wiped out the blood, sweat and tears of years. “For four years, we had worked really hard for this Olympics,” said Seyed Mohammad Pouladgar team head of Iran. To cancel the Olympics would have been a crushing, soul-destroying blow to young athletes who - in their short careers - may only have three, two or even one single Olympic shot. ‘Thank you, Japan’ But viewed from the perspective of the IOC and the government of Japan, the tasks and risks were enormous. For any country, hosting an Olympics represents an awesome national undertaking. To host an Olympics during an unprecedented global pandemic added a colossal new layer

of extra budget, planning and, above all, risk management. A whole new range of systems would have to be created, implemented and integrated across the platforms of both the IOC and the Japanese organizers. Could it be done?: It could. When the appropriate authorities green-lighted the Games for this year, the World Taekwondo family breathed a long sigh of relief. “I want to say ‘Thank you’ to the prime minister of Japan,” said Cam. “He made a difficult decision - but we appreciate it.” At ground zero, the staff deployed at the venues – from officials to volunteers to Self Defense Force personnel – are already winning World Taekwondo’s heart. In a big way. “The volunteers have all left their lives, their jobs, their families – for us!” said WT Technical Delegate Philippe Bouedo. “I think the Japanese have done a fabulous job so far they are so polite, so helpful, I have never been around a culture like this,” said Moreno. “This is my eighth Olympics, but this is another level - 100 percent top level.” “’Thank you, Japanese people!’” added Seyed Pouladgar “The Japanese people are very, very good at hospitality.” Upside in the Downside Despite the horrors and inconveniences, there have been some positives to the pandemic. The break from an intense competitive schedule granted many players the chance to heal long-term injuries, while working on sustainable fitness and polishing fight technique. “I told everyone that it was time to grow and have fun,” said Moreno. “This down time was unprecedented for the athletes as there are [usually] so many [competitive] events.” The pandemic also forced sporting officials to find ways to overcome restrictions, such as the inability to travel in-

ternationally or gather in groups. One solution was to take up or increase the use of convenient, cross-border digital technologies. The habits formed will likely outlive the pandemic. “COVID-19 was a curse, but on the other hand, it was a blessing,” said WT Secretary General Hoss Rafaty. “It taught us to be more efficient, more sustainable, more environmentally friendly - so many positives have come out of it.” Others took a more philosophical view of the COVID-19 challenge. The Fight of our Lives “Humans are always fighting,” said WT Council Member Dejun Sun. “But this is a fight we should win together – the fight against this virus!” Some expressed a near disbelief that the humanity had summoned the courage to hurl down the gauntlet to COVID-19 by going ahead with the Games. “Sport proves that we can beat this virus,” said Coach Faris Alassef of Jordan. “It is so good to be here – and so weird.” “It’s amazing to be here,” added Canada’s Park. “It is just amazing that this is actually happening.” Though the “global carnival” spirit of the Olympics is inevitably absent at Tokyo 2020, a sense is already growing that this great international event will become a historic landmark in mankind’s struggle against COVID-19. For those who have gathered in Tokyo, it will be something to tell children and grandchildren about in the years and decades ahead. “This situation cannot go on forever and we would all regret it if we did not hold these Olympics,” said Australia’s Dighou. “We are here! And we are definitely going to have a great Games.” 19 19

BEST FOOT FORWARD

Fourteen Taekwondo athletes from 13 different National Olympic Committees (NOCs) had the honour of carrying their country’s flags during the iconic athletes’ parade. The Opening Ceremony at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium was held without spectators due to COVID-19 safety measures, but that did not detract from the sense of emotion and occasion. Meanwhile, the strong representation of Taekwondo players among the flag bearers testified to the broad popularity of the sport and how well established it is in many countries around the world. Among Taekwondo’s flag bearers were: China’s Olympic and two-time World Champion Shuai Zhao, Cote d’Ivoire’s history-making Olympic Champion Cheick Sallah Cisse, Gabon’s record-breaking Olympic Silver Medallist Anthony Mylann Obame and Azerbaijan’s former Youth World Champion Farida Azizova. And of course, it would not be at an Olympic Games Opening Ceremony without Tonga’s super buff Pita Taufatofua also marching with the flag. To promote gender equality, one male and one female athlete from each NOC were selected as flag bearers.

Taekwondoin Bear Banners at Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony

The full list of Taekwondo’s flag bearers:

Female

Male

Farida Azizova (Azerbaijan)

Farzad Mansouri (Afghanistan)

Nigora Tursunkulova (Uzbekistan)

Anthony Mylann Obame (Gabon)

Hedaya Wahba (Egypt)

Dejan Georgievski (North Macedonia)

Malia Paseka (Tonga)

Cheick Sallah Cisse (Cote d’Ivoire)

Paola Avila Ramirez (Honduras)

Shuai Zhao (China)

Julyana Al-Sadeq (Jordan)

Pita Taufatofua (Tonga) Abdoul Razak Issoufou Alfaga (Niger) Seydou Fofana (Mali)

Competition Draw, Team Leaders Meeting Takes Place CHIBA, Japan (Jul. 22, 2021)

Pre-Games tensions are rising. The eagerly anticipated competition draw was today held ahead of the Olympic taekwondo competition on the 24-27 July as team leaders discovered who their athletes will be facing in Tokyo. Ahead of the draw, leaders from the 61 participating NOCs, plus the Refugee Team, attended the Team Leaders Meeting. World Taekwondo Committee chairs delivered information on matters such as competition schedule, competition rules and medical rules and safety procedures. Addressing the team leaders and coaches, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said: “I know you and your athletes have been waiting for five years to participate in these Games. We expect many great things here in Tokyo. All of you as team leaders will play a critical role in the success of these Olympic competitions. You will help to show to the world that Taekwondo is one of the most fair and transparent sports. Of course, it is not possible for everyone to be a winner, but accepting defeat with grace and respect is a key part of taekwondo.” Choue welcomed team leaders from Ethiopia, Ireland, North Macedonia and Burkina Faso who will have athletes competing in Olympic Taekwondo for the first time in Tokyo. Team leaders from the five countries who will be competing in the mixed gender team – China, Cote d’Ivoire, Iran, Japan and ROC – remained after the meeting for a briefing on the showcase.

Italy’s Vito Dell’Aquila and Thailand’s Panipak Wongpattanakit seized the first two golds in the four-day Taekwondo Olympic competition at Tokyo 2020, in the M-58kg and W-49kg categories, respectively. Both categories’ final matches featured elite, established fighters battling newcomers. The silver in the M-58kg went to Tunisia while the silver in the W-49kg was taken by Spain. Bronzes went to ROC and Korea in the M-58kg, and to Serbia and Israel in the W-49kg. Israel’s bronze was that country’s first-ever medal in Olympic Taekwondo. The Day 1 finals were visited by IOC President Thomas Bach, IOC Vice President Ser Miang Ng, IOC Member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi, ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. The finals followed a day of action in the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba, a seaside surburb of Tokyo. Given the lockdown on international competition in 2020, the results in this Olympic Games were always going to be unpredictable – and, indeed, the action on the day included a pair of shock results.

ITALY AND THAILAND STRIKE GOLD ON DAY 1 CHIBA, JAPAN (JUL. 24, 2021)

Elite stars perform as expected as long-awaited Games kick off

Olympic Upsets Double Olympic gold medalist Jingyu Wu of China, who had come to Tokyo in quest of a historic third Olympic win, had been beaten in the semi finals by the unheralded, 17-year-old Adriana Cerezo Iglesias of Spain – who later took silver. Bach personally consoled Wu. The 34-year-old mother, a legend in the sport, was fighting in her last Olympic Games. Another shock defeat had been suffered by Jun Jang of Korea – the dominant fighter in his category before the pandemic struck. He was defeated in the semis by the equally unheralded Muhamed Khalil Jendoubi of Tunisia - who went on to win silver. Despite the lack of spectators due to the pandemic, the atmosphere in the stadium was electric. Rock music kept the atmosphere upbeat in the downtime between rounds and bouts. In a showcase event that took place before the medal fights, a Mixed Gender Team Competition took place. In today’s event, China took on Cote d’Ivoire, with Team China grabbing a hard-fought 65-42 victory. The hall was animated just prior to the showcase courtesy of a troupe of Japanese Taiko drummers pounding out martial beats.

M-58kg Vito Dell’Aquila of Italy faced off against Muhamed Khalil Jendoubi of Tunisia for gold. On paper, the Italian had clear superiority: A World Championship and a Grand Prix gold medal hang in his medal cabinet, while the Tunisian can boast just three Open and four Continental wins. But it was Jendoubi who drew first blood with a whiplash kick to the head for three points - a move that clearly stunned Dell’Aquila. Then another two points with a body kick. The Italian managed to grab two points back with an in-close torso kick and Round 1 ended 5-2 to Jendoubi. Round 2 started with a flurry, and the Italian scored twice in quick succession. The board rose 6-7 to Jendoubi. The Tunisian was looking very dangerous with high kicks, forcing Dell’Aquila to lean back and keep his head out of range. But Round 2 ended close: 9-8 to Jendoubi – meaning that both fighters had everything to battle for

in the final round. Round 3 started with some close-in work, with the Italian seemingly unable to reach his opponent’s head with his round kick. Gamjeoms for Dell’Aquila were successfully protested by his coach. The score rose to 10-9 to Jendoubi - but Dell’Aquila equalized, 10-10 with a minute to go. It would all came down to the final seconds, and top-quality Taekwondoin have to keep cool and keep scoring as the clock ticks down. Dell’Aquila showed that quality amid a furious, downto-the-final-buzzer flurry: he found his range and connected exactly when he needed to. Final score? 16-12 and gold for the Italian, and a very well-deserved silver for the Tunisian. Bronzes were won by Mikhail Artamonov of ROC and Jun Jang of Korea.

W-49kg The near-unknown 17-year-old Adriana Cerezo Iglesias of Spain took on long-term favorite and widely experienced Panipak Wongpattanakit of Thailand for the gold. This looked like a walkover. Cerezo Iglesias has 21 Open victories to her name, but has never won a major. The dominant Wongpattanakit, on the other hand, has two World and six Grand Prix wins, as well as an Olympic bronze, to her name. The fight started with both athletes probing with longrange side kicks – but it was the young Spaniard who connected first. The Thai, who looked to have the advantage in leg length, shot back with a combination of both head and body kicks, but Cerezo Iglesias took Round 1, 4-2. In the second, Cerezo Iglesias continued to ply her side kick. Wongpattanakit put the pressure on and connected to the head while the Spanish athlete visited the mats. The second round ended 9-6 to the Thai. Tight stuff, and the third round would be a see-saw drama. Cerezo Iglesias started to aim high but it was her jackhammer side kick to the body that put her ahead, 10-9. Yet as the seconds counted down, the Thai showed her experience and connected to the body, winning the match by a whisker - 11-10. When the final buzzer went, a broad grin spread across Wongpattanakit’s face as she secured the gold while the youthful Spanish player broke down in tears - so close, yet so far. Bronzes were won by Rio Silver Medalist Tijana Bogdanovic of Serbia, and by Abishag Semberg of Israel.

DAY 1 AFTERVIEW

ELITE PLAYERS, GOLDEN RESULTS CHIBA, JAPAN (JUL. 25, 2021)

fter the smoke had cleared on Day 1 of the Taekwondo competition at the Makuhari Messe Hall A in Chiba, athletes got the chance to wind down and talk to media. Thailand’s Panipak Wongpattanakit had been the pundits’ favorite to win the W-49kg category from the get-go – and, sure enough, she walked away with a neckful of gold. But there had been surprises. “I was calm, I was confident that I could take the win,” she said - but being so high-profile had its disadvantages, as her virtually unknown opponent, Adriana Cerezo Iglesias, knew her, inside out. “My opponent had studied me a lot, so I had to change my game plan,” she said. “Lacking experience made my opponent more hungry - she came out with fire! - but I was confident in my abilities.” The Thai came back from behind in the final round with cool, precise professionalism - taking the match and the gold with the points she needed, just when she needed them. That turnaround result caused some angst to her opponent, a 17-year-old Spaniard, who – having never won a major before – came within inches of Olympic gold.

“I am happy - but it is like 50-50,” admitted silver medalist Cerezo Iglesias. “I have some feeling of being really good, but on the other hand - I had it! I let her win! I gave her the chance to win!” She paused and added, “But she is really good.” Similarly, in the M-58kg category, Italy’s Vito Dell’Aquila took gold courtesy of a from-behind victory. “It was not strange to win, as I am second in the rankings,” he said to a large (and very, very happy) Italian press corps. “I had a few problems in the second round, I really had to focus on the moment, and that helped me to win.” His Tunisian opponent – like Cerezo Iglesias, a virtual unknown in the Taekwondo world before yesterday - seemed dazed but delighted to suddenly find himself in the global spotlight. “I tried for three rounds, but in the last 30 seconds, it changed,” said Muhamed Khalil Jendoubi. “I am so happy for this medal - the next one will get better! I did my best, I thank God, I am happy - I give it to Tunisia.” What is next for this new tranche of Olympian champs? In the immediate future, there will be relaxation. “I don’t have to diet or have anxiety, so I will enjoy my medal,” said Dell’Aquila. “But I will continue to work, as I love Taekwondo.” Bronze medalist Mikhail Artamanov of ROC was asked what he plans to do with the prize money he will receive when he returns home. “I have no specific plans,” he said. “But of course, I will share it with my family.” Looking further into the future, the Italian champ - despite having reached the pinnacle of sport - is hungry for more. “I want to participate in future Olympics – Paris 2024, LA in 2028 and maybe in 2032 – as the Olympic atmosphere is fantastic,” said Dell’Aquilla. “But I want to stay down to earth. Life continues.” For a man who took up Taekwondo in order to overcome shyness, the Italian is almost certainly going to find himself in the public gaze when he steps off the plane back in Rome. He is ready for it. “This sport is very demanding, but it is a very nice sport, and I want to promote it among young people,” he said. “It is my passion!” One question about this unique Olympic Games was how it had felt to compete in a stadium that – due to the global pandemic – was empty of spectators. “Some athletes need an audience, but I don’t - I am always so focused I forget everything around me,” said Dell’Aquila. “I want the audience to come back - of course, sports needs an audience! - but this experience was good for me.”

Hail the new heroes of Taekwondo - and the two gold medalists are both very new heroes for the sport. Anastasija Zolotic of USA and Ulugbek Rashitov of Uzbekistan both made history as they won golds on the second day of competition at Tokyo 2020, in the W-57kg and M-68kg categories, respectively. Zolotic became the first American woman to win a gold in Olympic taekwondo ; Rashitov is the first Uzbek to win an Olympic medal of any colour in the sport. The silver in the W-57kg went to ROC’s Tatiana Minina while silver in the M-68kg was taken by Great Britain’s Bradly Sinden. Bronzes went to Chinese Taipei’s Chia-Ling Lo and Turkey’s Hatice Kubra Ilgun in the W-57kg, and to Turkey’s Hakan Recber and China’s Shuai Zhao in the M-68kg.

USA AND UZBEKISTAN TOP PODIUMS ON DAY 2 CHIBA, JAPAN (JUL. 25, 2021)

Shock Exits The finals capped a second day of shock surprises at the Makuhari Messe Hall A in Chiba. Earlier, London and Rio Gold Medalist Jade Jones of Great Britain had been knocked out of the competition in her first match; so, too, had widely fancied Korean superfighter Dae-hoon Lee. Just prior to the medal matches, a showcase was held: The second day of the Mixed-Gender Team Competition. In this rollicking format, China took on ROC, winning a close battle, 39-36. IOC President Thomas Bach visited the Taekwondo competition for the second consecutive day; no doubt to cheer for Refugee Taekwondo Athlete Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin the first EOR athlete to compete in the medal rounds at Tokyo 2020. Alizadeh Zenoorin had won coverage in major global media as she delivered a series of superb performances during a tough series of matches earlier the day - including taking out defending champion Jones. However, she finally lost in her bronze match. Remarkably, out of the four fighters who strode onto the field of play for the gold medal matches, only one was an established player on the elite circuit; the other three are all relatively new faces.

W-57kg

After a day of upsets that saw two of the game’s biggest names stopped in the prelims, new stars lit up the medal podium

The final pitted seventh-seed Zolotic of Team USA – whose biggest achievement in the senior division prior to today was two Grand Prix bronzes - against fifth-seed Tatiana Minina of ROC, a silver medalist at the 2017 World Championships.

The ROC player drew first blood, opening the scoring with a long-range round kind for three points - but the American swiftly hit back to the trunk. In a flurry, the scores rose for both players and equalized at 7-7. Then Zolotic landed another head kick - the slap of impact on the head protector resounded round the stadium - and the first round ended 12-10 to the American. Round 2 got underway with both players firing high, arcing kicks in some very clean, long-range Taekwondo. The match varied between a war of nerves in the center of the mats, with some yelling, then fast flurries of action. Round 2 ended 14-13 to Zolotic. The final round saw the American fighter turn up the pressure and the scoring; the ref had little to do as the fighting took place at range, as both athletes gave their kicks full play. As the round proceeded, Zolotic went into top gear and the shorter ROC athlete looked increasingly frustrated. There was some ferocious play in the final seconds, but the winner was clear. A technically excellent bout ended 25-17 to the American. Bronzes went to Chia-ling Lo of Chinese Taipei and Hatice Kubra Ilgun of Turkey.

in continual action, the score equalized at 19-19 The drama rose a notch as the Uzbek coach called an IVR. Rejected. As action recommenced, Sinden landed twice to the body, drawing ahead, 23-19. Rashitov fired back, with head kicks and a flurry of strikes, taking the board to 26-25. But as the final seconds counted down, it was Sinden who drew ahead just when he needed to. It looked like gold for GB - but with just 10 seconds on the clock, Rashitov landed a spinning back kick and that was the decisive blow. The match ended 34-29. A superb win for Rashitov and shear agony for Sinden – who, like his team mate Lutalo Muhammad at Rio 2016, lost the game in the final moment. Bronzes went to Hakan Recber of Turkey – who is coached by Turkish Taekwondo legend and London 2012 Gold Medalist Servet Tazegul - and Rio 2016 Gold Medalist Shuai Zhao of China.

M-68kg In the last match of the day, Great Britain’s World Champion and two seed Bradly Sinden came out looking serious, while Uzbekistan’s 17th seed Ulugbek Rashitov – who had been delighting the crowd all day with his high and spinning kicks, but whose biggest win prior to today was gold at the 2019 World Military Games – looked fresh and relaxed. The Uzbek opened the scoring with a punch as Sinden tried to land to the head from the clinch – but the Brit returned fire with trunk kicks, going four up, while the Uzbek landed another punch. Action heated up: Sinden’s kicks were hitting – then suddenly, in the best play of the game so far, Rashitov landed two head shots within seconds of each other and Round 1 ended 13-8 to the Uzbek. The second round saw continued intensity. Sinden ran Rashitov off the area, but the Uzbek was highly accurate with his kicks, moving his score north. Sinden lost a gamjeom for grabbing, and his technique was starting to look ragged – then he landed a head kick from the clinch, putting him back in the game. Round 2 ended 18-14 to Rashitov. The match could go either way in the third – and indeed,

DAY 2 AFTERVIEW

YOUNG WARRIORS, NEW STARS CHIBA, JAPAN (JUL. 26, 2021)

“I

came here to take what was mine,” declared Anastasija Zolotic, after winning Team USA’s first ever women’s gold in Taekwondo. “My warm-ups were flawless - all the stars were aligned.” That’s a very American show of confidence. And the win was an awesome feat of both athleticism and confidence for Zolotic - who has barely exited the juniors. The newly minted medalist hopes that her gold will put wheels under the sport in her home country, where it has been largely absent from the medal podiums in recent years. “This gold medal will hopefully bring US Taekwondo to a whole new level, and give Taekwondo the attention it deserves,” in her home country, Zolotic said. “Hopefully, we will have some more girls and guys than just me and [fellow US player Paige McPherson].” But when she gets back home, this wise-beyond-heryears 18-year-old is not looking for adulation. “I am just looking forward to seeing my family,” she said. “I am not needy for attention.” Her opponent in the gold-medal match seemed quietly satisfied with silver.

“Things were changing rapidly, I could not take the lead and win,” said Tatiana Minina of ROC. “But looking back an hour later, I am happy to have the silver medal.” The winner in the male category on the same day was another youngster not long out of the junior divisioon 19-year-old Ulugbek Rashitov of Uzbekistan, who had hacked his way through to the final wielding a spectacular armory of crowd-pleasing spin kicks. “I am feeling the best emotion I ever felt,” he told reporters. “I believed in gold and I trained only for gold.” Given that no Uzbek had ever won any Olympic medal in Taekwondo before, there was an air of unreality around his victory. “To be honest, I still cannot believe it,” Rashitov said. “Because no Uzbek has ever had an Olympic medal in this sport, it is like a dream, a miracle - words fail me, I am overwhelmed.” The superb win for Rashitov represented agony for his opponent, Bradly Sinden of Team GB – who, like his teammate Lutalo Muhammad at Rio in 2016 – had been ahead as the countdown ticked to the final buzzer, only to lose in the final moment. “I am gutted, losing right at the end, but it happens in this sport,” Sinden said. “And I have won in the final seconds - it is swings and roundabouts.” Still, Sinden’s appearance in the final made up, at least in part, for the shock defeat suffering by his teammate, the widely heralded Jade Jones, who was pursuing a historic third Olympic gold, but who was ejected in her first match. “I am gutted now, but after a while I will get over it and realize what I have done,” he said. Sinden’s eyes are now aimed at a not-too-distant Paris 2024. “Everything is a learning curve and that is what I will take forward,” he said. Given the calls from some corners for this year’s Olympics to be cancelled due to the risks posed by COVID-19, Rashitov had some words about the harsh life athletes endure beyond the spotlight of the Games. “Few people see how much we train, and what we have to go through just to get here to the Games,” he said. “It is not easy, let me tell you.”

BACH IN THE PARK 32

IOC President Thomas Bach joined World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue for two days in a row at the Makuhari Messe Hall A in Chiba to enjoy what has so far been a thrilling Olympic Taekwondo competition.

On Day 1, President Bach was joined at the finals by IOC Vice President Ser Miang Ng, IOC Member Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi, ASOIF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. Bach and Choue watched as Italy’s Vito Dell’Aquila and Thailand’s Panipak Wongpattanakit seized the first two golds of the competition. On Day 2, Bach returned for his second stint of Taekwondo on the day of upsets and surprise defeats. Among all the excellent talent on show, Bach was no doubt keen to cheer for Refugee Taekwondo Athlete Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin, the first EOR athlete to compete in the medal rounds at Tokyo 2020. While Kimia fell just short of winning a historic medal, her performances, including knocking two-time Olympic champion Jade Jones out of the round of 16, were an inspiration.

CROATIA AND ROC TAKE FIRST TAEKWONDO OLYMPIC GOLDS CHIBA, JAPAN (JUL. 26, 2021)

After the surprises of Day 2, Day 3 of Tokyo 2020’s Taekwondo competition saw established players mount the podiums

Matea Jelic of Croatia and Maksim Khramtcov of ROC captured the two golds on offer on Day 3 of the Taekwondo competition, in the W-67kg and M-80kg categories, respectively. Both athletes wrote history as the first players from their countries to win Olympic Taekwondo’s most precious metal. The silver in the W-67kg went to Great Britain’s Lauren Williams while silver in the M-80kg was won by Jordan’s Saleh Elsharabaty. Bronzes went to Cote d’Ivoire’s Ruth Gbagbi and Egypt’s Hedaya Wahba in the W-67kg, and to Croatia’s Toni Kanaet and Egypt’s Seif Eissa in the M-80kg. Some stability returned to the competition at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba after the shock surprises of Day 2. Yesterday, both golds were won by teenagers who were both new entrants to the senior division, Today, all fighters in the finals were established names on the circuit. Even so, there had been some shock exits in the earlier rounds. Defending Olympic Gold Medalist in the M-80kg category, Cheick Sallah Cisse of Cote d’Ivoire, went out in his first fight. His team mate, Rio Bronze Medalist Ruth Gbagbi - a favorite for gold in Tokyo - lost her chance for a place in the final after losing a scorching semi-final match against Team GB’s Williams, but went through to the bronzes.

W-67kg The final pitted Croatia’s Jelic against GB’s Williams. This would be a clash of styles: the tactical craft of Jelic against the all-out assault of Williams, one of the fiercest fighters on the planet. Round 1 started with the Croatian clearly working to a game plan: fighting forward against the always offensive Williams, putting her on the back foot and picking up the first point courtesy of a fall from the Brit. But Williams returned fire to the head, and the score seesawed. Round 1 ended 5-4 to Williams. As the second round got going, both landed head kicks in swift succession, and an IVR from Croatia was rejected. Jelic landed an out-of-nowhere head kick to take the lead 10-9, but Williams equalized almost immediately with a punch. Round 2 ended 10-10. The final rounded stared messily as both athletes, fight-

M-80kg ing hard, charged into each other and clinched; the score rose to 13-13. It was rough stuff: Jelic visited the mats on the business end of a Williams side kick. An IVR request from the British coach was rejected. Thirteen seconds remained on the clock, but Williams was three points ahead as play resumed. Jelic timed her last-second offensive to perfection. The Croat landed a head kick - then another - that dropped Williams to the mats. An unbelieving Williams surged forward in the last three seconds in a desperate counterattack - but it was too late. The match ended 25-22, with the gold for Jelic, and silver – the second consecutive silver for GB in this competition – for Williams. Bronzes were won by Cote d’Ivoire’s Gbagbi and Hedaya Wahba of Egypt. Coincidentally, both fighters had previously won bronzes in Rio (albeit, the Egyptian had been fighting in a different weight category).

Jordan’s Saleh Elsharabaty faced ROC’s Maksim Khramtcov in the final of this popular category. This, too, would be a clash of styles: the technically brilliant Jordanian against the unorthodox and highly dexterous man from ROC. As Round 1 got underway, both looked well matched in physique and height. Battle commenced with both fighters duelling with long-range head kicks in the center of the mats – good, clean Taekwondo. The ROC fighter landed the first kick to the trunk for two, then switched up to the head to go five points up. The Jordanian enjoyed some very vocal support from the considerable contingent of Arab athletes and officials in the venue, but the first round ended 5-0 to Khramtcov. In the second round, the ROC player pressed his attack, putting Elsharabaty on the back leg. As the round counted down, the Jordanian, despite his high work rate, had not put a point on the board, and looked frustrated. Khramtcov kept the pressure on, keeping the Jordanian off balance; only a fall from the ROC fighter granted Elsharabaty his first point. Round 2 ended 7-1. In Round 3, Khramtcov kept his legs flying – then the Jordanian finally found the range, landing a spinning heel kick to the head and the score was closer – 6-8. Suddenly, there was everything to play for, but the move only thrust Khramtcov into yet higher gear. He landed his close-range head kick and then lifted the board higher and higher, his radar fully locked on and his weaponry striking from every angle. Even as he raised his score to 14, then 16, and onward, the ROC fighter did not relax the pressure until the very final seconds when a grin split Khramtcov’s face – and the battle ended 20-9. Both fighters laughed and embraced at the conclusion of play - clearly there was no ill will. And indeed, Elsharabaty had much to laugh about. He had given Jordan only its second-ever Olympic medal in any discipline, after his trailblazing predecessor Ahmad Abughaush had broken the ice with Taekwondo gold in Rio. Bronzes in the category were won by Croatia’s Toni Kanaet and Egypt’s Seif Eissa.

DAY 3 AFTERVIEW

PERSONAL LOSS, OLYMPIC GAIN CHIBA, JAPAN (JUL. 27 2021)

aksim Khramtcov of ROC, gold medalist in the men’s M-80kg, was struck by tragedy pre-Olympics when his mother passed away. Questions hung over whether the creative, crowd-pleasing and always-upbeat favorite in the M-80kg category would make it to Tokyo. But there were no questions in Khramtcov’s mind. “I did not think of giving up,” he told reporters after the smoke of battle had cleared. “My mother wanted to see a gold medal in my hands - maybe more than myself. I had to come.” He came, he saw, he conquered. Confidence played a major part in his gold-medal win – the first for his country in Taekwondo. “Every time when I started fighting, I knew I was strong enough - I had no doubts,” he said. “I came to the Games and what was the purpose of coming? I came to win the gold!” His coach also came in for praise. “He is a great part of my victory,” Khramtcov said. “I don’t see my family, he does not see his family - we are family!” When he gets home, he expects his gold will grant Taekwondo more publicity across Russia – and with his prize money he plans to buy his father a car. His opponent, silver medalist Saleh Elsharabaty, had delivered Jordan its second ever Olympic medal in any sport, following in the footsteps of Ahmad Abughaush, who won gold in Rio in 2016. How has the country built its impresssive Taekwondo medal machine? “We have a good base in Taekwondo, and our coach and our federation are always going forward,” Elsharabaty said. “We are taking it up to the next level.” While the global public sees Olympians on their peak form once every four years, the Jordanian made clear the endless hours of blood, sweat and tears athletes endure, far, far from the glare of the TV cameras.

“It is many years in the making,” Elsharabaty said. “It does not matter if there is COVID-19 or problems or difficulties, we all train day and night.” Matea Jelic, who had just delivered Croatia its first-ever Taekwondo gold medal with her win in the W-67kg, was ecstatic. “It is unreal - just unreal!” she said. “I am so proud to make history for my country.” It had been a dramatic victory in a ferocious fight. When it came to her war against Great Britain’s Lauren Williams – arguably the most offensive fighter in the women’s division – Jelic had a simple game plan. “The plan was to fight,” she said. “Nothing else - just fight, non-stop.” The match was classic: a high-octane combat that saw the scores go back and forth, and that could have gone either way. In the third and final round, both fighters had a brief moment to catch their breaths and recalibrate their games at the end of the third round, when an IVR was called. Jelic was behind on the board. 13 seconds remained on the clock. Action resumed – and the Croatian attacked in sensational fashion, scoring two head shots and a knockdown in the last 13 seconds. “I turned off my head: you don’t do what your head tells you; you have to trust your instincts,” she said. “I can’t explain it, it was the perfect moment. It was just beautiful.” Williams had – like her teammate and fellow silver medalist Bradly Sinden on Day 2 – been ahead on the board, only to lose in the final seconds. “I made a mistake, I paid for that mistake, and I will regret it for the rest of my life,” Williams said. “None of us want to lose, it is just what happens in the moment, you want to hold on to your lead and you hope and pray.” Williams, like Elsharabaty, emphasized the tough life led by Olympians. “I never thought that I would be alongside some of the best British athletes in the world,” she said. “I missed out on a lot in my teenage years, but I would not change anything, I have worked all my life for this medal.” Having won Olympic silver, her feelings were conflicted. “I am very happy, but this is not what I wanted,” she said. “This medal is going to be kept safe - I just wish it was the other color.”

ROC, Serbia Seize Tokyo's Last Golds CHIBA, JAPAN (JUL. 27 2021)

Vladislav Larin of ROC and Milica Mandic of Serbia captured the last two gold medals on offer in the Tokyo 2020 Taekwondo competition, winning the M+80kg and W+67kg categories, respectively. The silver in the M+80kg went to Dejan Georgievski of North Macedonia – the country’s first-ever Olympic silver medal – while silver in the W+67kg was won by South Korea’s Da-bin Lee. Bronzes went to South Korea’s Kyo-don In and Cuba’s Rafael Yunier Alba Castillo in the M+80, and to France’s Althea Laurin and Great Britain’s Bianca Walkden in the W+67kg. Mandic’s medal was especially remarkable: Her win at Tokyo 2020 mirrored her feat nine years previously, when she had grabbed gold at London 2012. Just before the medal matches, the day’s showcase, a Mixed Gender Team competition, pitted Iran against China. The winner - after a battle of the nations – was China, with a score of 41 to Iran’s 22.

W+67kg

M+80kg This final pitted ROC’s top-seeded 2019 World Champion Larin against North Macedonia’s 14th seed Dejan Georgievski - a relative unknown who has never won a major tournament. Larin was chasing ROC’s second gold, after his team mate Maksim Khramtcov’s victory on Day 3. As the game got underway, after a fast start, both players settled down and the first point went to Larin as his opponent was penalized for grabbing. The ROC fighter doubled his points with a punch, and Round 1 ended 2-0. As the second round got underway, Georgievski reached out with an almost lazy looking kick to the torso for two points - and suddenly it was game on. In a flurry, Larin scored to the head and body going to seven, but the Macedonian returned fire to the body, raising his tally to four. Larin started to take advantage of his long leg length, but his opponent was not overawed. Round 2 ended 9-7 to Larin. Round 3 would be the decider. At close quarters, both fighters tried to drop the ax in the clinch. Neither landed.

Then the finest blow of the evening - a textbook round kick to the head from Larin - caught Georgievski by surprise. Larin had now acquired his target, and landed to the body. As the match counted down, Georgievski started spinning, going for the big point kicks, but Larin was too canny to lose at this late stage. The final buzzer went with the game at 15-9. The ROC player exulted with an arms-outstretched victory scream - before being wrestled to the mats by his delighted coach. Bronzes were won by Kyo-don In of South Korea and Cuba’s Rafael Yunier Alba Castillo.

The final pitted London 2012 gold medalist and third seed Milica Mandic of Serbia against fifth-seeded 2019 World Champion Da-bin Lee of South Korea. Lee had earlier fought a semi-final against Team GB’s Bianca Walkden. In what was possibly the most dramatic match of the Tokyo 2020 competition, she won that bout by a single point in the last three seconds. For the first time at an Olympics, formerly dominant Team Korea had not bagged a single gold - perhaps piling pressure on Lee. As battle commenced, Mandic looked stronger, Lee livelier. The Serb opened the scoring with a head kick, then added two more points with a body kick, ending Round 1 on five points to Lee’s nil. In Round 2, a fall by the Serb – protested by IVR, to no avail – gave Lee one point by gam-jeom. Lee raised her work rate, started attacking forward and landed to the trunk - but fell. A Korean IVR failed. Score: 6-3. Lee attacked forward with a round-side kick combination but failed to connect. The board ended Round 2 at 6-3 to Mandic. As the final round kicked off, a punch by Lee lifted her points to four, then she landed body kick. It was 6-6 with 40 seconds left on the clock: the tension was almost tangible. Mandic now showed her professionalism. A punch by the Serb put her one point up - then she sealed the deal with a body kick, and a tumble by Lee. Lee went into last-second fight mode - a mode which had succeeded spectacularly against Walkden earlier. But it failed against Mandic, and the scoreboard ended 10-7. Mandic was joined by her coach, Dragan Jovic, on the field of play, and the two ran around the mats, flag in hand. Nine years after London, Mandic had garnered gold once again. Bronzes were won by a delighted-looking Althea Laurin of France and Walkden of Great Britain. Those results brought the curtain down on Taekwondo at Tokyo 2020.

DAY 4 AFTERVIEW

SLAVIC TRIUMPHS CHIBA, JAPAN (JUL. 28, 2021)

Making that feat more remarkable, she won them over a span of three, not two, Games. “I really feel amazing,” she said. “This is the same, but a different feeling: In London, I was 20!” Between her duo of wins had been Rio 2016 - when she had gone home empty handed. “Rio was very hard for me, I had wanted it so much, but I did not get a result,” she said. “I was sad and disappointed.” Tokyo proved to be “third time lucky.” “I tried step-by-step to do better [through the preliminaries] and my dream came true,” she said. Referring to her team mates and her master coach - Dragan Jovic of Belgrade’s famous Galeb Taekwondo gym - she said, “I think we are a dream team.” Serbia probably agrees.

iven the ROC’s position at the top of the medal table in the Tokyo 2020 Taekwondo Competition, the sport may be poised for an explosion in the country, reckons gold medalist Vladislav Larin. “Taekwondo is becoming more and more popular in my country, the team is very good - strong members! Strong athletes!” said the newly minted gold medalist in the M+80kg category. “My preparation for the Olympic Games was crystal clear: All the athletes understood why we came here, for what objective and what purpose.” Moreover, the sport has got what it takes to take to both catch the spectator’s eye and to engage the practitioner’s body, Larin reckons. “It is a beautiful sport, with beautiful movements everything that fans love, we have in this sport,” Larin said. Moreover, “people who are interested in fighting can learn a lot from Taekwondo - for self development and self realization.” Needless to say, Larin was delighted to have reached the summit of global sport. “It is a really amazing feeling to get this gold medal, it took all my life to get to this competition,” he said. “The Games is a celebration of sport in general and I am really pleased.” So will he return to the field of battle in Paris in 2024? “If my physical condition allows me to do that, I will do it with pleasure,” the 29-year-old said. “But this is a sport for young people, the average age in my category is 26 or 27.” Perhaps – but there is also a premium on experience. Another 29-year old - Serbia’s Milica Mandic – shared Larin’s victory on the day, bagging gold in the W+67kg category. And it was not the first time an Olympic gold medal had been hung around her neck: Mandic had previously won in London in 2012, making her part of a tiny super-elite who have won two golds.

Sport for All:

Medal Spectrum Maxes out at Tokyo 2020 ROC comes out overall winner in Taekwondo but the real victor was the sport's universality CHIBA, Japan (Jul. 28, 2021)

gony and ecstasy, tension and release, strategy and spectacle - all were on display at the Taekwondo competition at Tokyo 2020. The event saw exciting and dramatic matches. It saw stars fall in shock losses, and new stars rise in surprise wins. But above all, it showcased Taekwondo’s universality in terms of the sport’s medal spectrum. 21 separate NOCs won Thirty two medals were on offer, and players from 21 medals at 2020's National Olympic Committees – more than one third of the countries competing in Taekwondo in Tokyo – went home Taekwondo with Olympic medals round their necks. competition Though ROC, with two golds, came out at the top of the medal table, no single nation dominated. Of the eight golds available, seven were won by different countries. They included Croatia, ROC, Thailand and Uzbekistan - none of which had ever won Olympic gold in Taekwondo before. North Macedonia claimed a silver medal - the country’s first Olympic silver medal in any sport. Israel also secured a historic first medal in Taekwondo at the Olympic Games with a bronze. Refugee athlete Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin very nearly became the first ever medallist from the Olympic Refugee Team after an exceptional run to the bronze medal matches, but just fell short. The Tokyo bouts will also be remembered for the emergence of a new generation of champions. The sport’s talent pipeline is clearly flowing: Five Olympic medalists had medalled either at the World Taekwondo Junior Championships or the Youth Olympic Games, both held in 2018.

Speaking following the conclusion of the Olympic taekwondo competitions, World Taekwondo President Choue said: “The Olympic taekwondo at Tokyo 2020 was great. Our athletes reminded us all why taekwondo is such a well loved sport around the world. There was last-second drama, shock defeats and breath-taking athleticism all set against the sport’s values of friendship and respect. “We saw that Taekwondo is a sport which is universal and provides opportunities for all countries, big and small, and we saw teenagers emerge and challenge the established stars of our sport,” said World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “This led to very exciting matches and some surprising results and it showed us what a bright future Taekwondo has with so much talent coming through.” Choue also touched on the unique challenges that has been surmounted to hold the Olympics amid the global COVID-19 pandemic - and the new communications formats that have now become mainstream among sports enthusiasts. “Of course, we missed having our fans in the stadium but we felt their support from all around the world,” he said. “We only had to look on social media to see how much love there was for Taekwondo - and not just from existing fans, but lots of new ones who got swept up in the buzz around the sport. “

Peru

Best Olympic Male Athlete

Best Olympic Female Athlete

Best Paralympic Male Athlete

Best Paralympic Female Athlete

Vito

Milica

Nathan

Leonor

won gold in the M-61kg event at Tokyo 2020 - as per his confrident predictions before the Games began.

won gold in the W-49kg event with a dominant display becoming the first Peruvian to win Paralympic gold in 21 years .

On Jan. 7, 2022, World Taekwondo announced the winners of its “Best of 2021.” Thousands of online votes were cast in record time for the awards, which recognise the outstanding Olympic and Paralympic athletes, referees and coaches of the past year.

“There were so many wonderful Olympians, Paralympians, referees and coaches in 2021 that I do not know how the public decided who to vote for. Congratulations to all the winners of the Best of 2021 but also congratulations to all those who received votes and contributed to a hugely successful year for Taekwondo. 2021 was a year we will never forget. It was a year that showcased the very best of our sport not just in terms of medals and sporting excellence but also in terms of the power of Taekwondo to unite and celebrate the best of humanity.”

Dell’Aquila

Mandic

won gold at his Olympic debut in Tokyo in the M-58kg and caused an upset along the way as he overcame World Number One Jun Jang of Korea, in the semi-final.

Best of

made history at Tokyo 2020 as she became the first athlete from Serbia to win two individual Olympic gold medals having previously won the country’s first ever gold medal nine years prior at London 2012.

2021

Brazil

Serbia

Italy

THE BEST OF 2021 WINNERS ARE

Torquato

The voting was opened to the public on Jan. 4 and was set to remain open for ten days. However, it took just two days for the maximum number of votes to be submitted. It was the first time that members of the public could vote for their favourite Paralympians after Para Taekwondo made its Paralympic debut in Tokyo.

Espinoza

Speaking following the announcement, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said:

Slovenia Ukraine Serbia

Russia

Bosnia

Brazil

Best Olympic Female Referee

Best Olympic Male Referee

Best Olympic Coach

Best Paralympic Female Referee

Best Paralympic Male Referee

Best Paralympic Coach

Jasna

Andriy

Dragan

Elizaveta

Belmir

Rodrigo

Golubic

Starkov

Jovic

Tarasevich

Berberovic

Ferla

THE BEST OF 2021 WINNERS ARE 46

Olympic Games Gallery

Taekwondo confirmed for

LA 2028 Olympics The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session confirmed Taekwondo’s place on the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 initial sports programme, marking the eighth consecutive time the sport has been part of the world’s greatest sporting event Taekwondo was confirmed alongside 27 other sports on the programme during the IOC Session in Beijing. Speaking following the announcement, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said: “We are delighted and honoured that once again we will have the pleasure of watching the world’s best Taekwondo athletes compete at the Olympic Games in LA. Taekwondo has come a long way since its Olympic debut at Sydney 2000 and it is now one of the most inclusive and exciting sports on the programme. We will continue to work hard together for a well-governed World Taekwondo and deliver fair and exciting competitions. At World Taekwondo we are committed to ensuring that Taekwondo is not just the most dynamic and appealing sport possible, but that it also continues to promote and instill values that contribute to a better society.” Following Taekwondo’s debut at Sydney 2000, World Taekwondo has implemented a number of reforms and innovations to make the sport fairer, more transparent and more exciting. From London 2012, the game-changing Protector and Scoring System (PSS) was introduced which ushered in a new era for Taekwondo, providing athletes with greater protection and greater certainty and transparency in officiating. World Taekwondo has also made a series of changes to the rules and scoring system to encourage more exciting techniques and embraced the latest technological advances, such as the use of instant 4D replays, to enhance the viewer experience. World Taekwondo has grown around the world with 211 member national associations, including most recently Vatican City, making it one of the world’s largest International Federations in terms of global representation. It has also dramatically developed Para Taekwon66

do which made its Paralympic Games debut at Tokyo 2020. Following the success of the sport’s debut, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), recently announced an increase in the number of Para Taekwondo events at Paris 2024 from 6 to 10. As an inclusive and accessible sport, with minimal equipment required, Taekwondo has proven to be a sport which provides medal opportunities for smaller nations. Chinese Taipei, Cote d’Ivoire and Jordan have all won their first ever Olympic gold medals in any sport through Taekwondo. Afghanistan, Gabon, and Vietnam all won their first ever Olympic medals of any colour through Taekwondo. The accessibility of the sport and the values it instils in its practitioners, has been a key driver in its success within refugee communities. World Taekwondo has had a long-term commitment to using Taekwondo to contribute to humanitarian causes and created the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) to empower refugees and displaced people around the world through Taekwondo. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Taekwondo had the third highest number of refugee athletes and also had a refugee athlete at the Paralympic Games. World Taekwondo is committed to matching the excellence of its athletes off the mat and has undertaken a comprehensive process of governance reform over the last four years. Its progress has been recognised in the ASOIF Review of International Federation Governance which has seen it move from group C to B to A2 – the second highest ranking. World Taekwondo is aiming to become a leading International Federation in good governance and sustainability and move into the A1 group. 67

2021

Para Welcome to

Taekwondo By IPC Volunteer Writer Lee Reaney

With 2020 having been unforgettable for all the wrong reasons, 2021 should be unforgettable for all the right ones. The biggest year in Para Taekwondo history would see the sport’s Paralympic debut, as well as its biggest-ever World Championships.

Legends to Be Made at Tokyo 2020 Para Taekwondo is finally set to make its Paralympic debut this summer at the rescheduled Paralympic Games in 2021. The addition of the first full-contact sport to the Paralympic program gives Para Taekwondo athletes the chance to dazzle on the world stage. The sport’s biggest names – Denmark’s Lisa Gjessing, Iran’s Mehdi Pourrahnama, Mongolia’s Bolor-Erdene Ganbat, and Great Britain’s Amy Truesdale – are on course. But so too are Para Taekwondo’s newest generation of stars, led by Mexico’s Juan Diego Garcia Lopez, Brazil’s Nathan Torquato, and China’s Yujie Li.

Dreams Will Be Realised – and Crushed – at Paralympic Qualification Tournaments When the COVID-19 pandemic upended the sports world’s calendar last year, Para Taekwondo had only completed three of five Paralympic qualification events. This meant that athletes from across Europe and Asia were forced to wait patiently – and train incessantly – in preparation for when their own qualification events would be held.

Para Taekwondo Enters Grand-Prix and Grand Slam Events Another sign that Para Taekwondo is one of the Para movement’s fastest-growing sports is the introduction of new, high-level events. In 2021 - COVID-permitting - Para Taekwondo athletes will join their Olympic counterparts at lucrative events like the World Taekwondo Grand Prix and World Taekwondo Grand Slam Champions se68

ries. Para Taekwondo has been approved for up to four Grand Prix events each year, including the annual Grand Prix final. Para Taekwondo’s Grand Prix debut was slated for late 2020 in Cancun, Mexico before COVID-19 forced its postponement. Para Taekwondo may also be included in the prestigious Grand Slam Champions Series – a season-ending event featuring the year’s most successful fighters. World Taekwondo says the inclusion of Para athletes at these events “reflects the significant growth of the sport.”

Para Poomsae Expands to Include all Impairment Types As Para Taekwondo attracts more and more athletes, the sport continues to grow at a rapid pace – and perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in Para Poomsae. Recognizing this, World Taekwondo was, in 2021, set to expand classification groups to include Para Poomsae athletes with any impairment types, adding divisions for deaf athletes, visually impaired athletes, those with neurological or intellectual impairments, short-stature athletes, and athletes in wheelchairs. An ad-hoc Para Taekwondo Poomsae Committee was formed in 2020 and will work to adapt poomsae rules to the different impairment types, and develop a method for ranking Para Poomsae. It will also study new competition formats, including pairs, team, and freestyle. Ultimately, the goal is to see poomsae athletes join their kyorugi colleagues by participating at the Paralympic Games. 69

based in refugee camps like Hakizimana, have benefitted from its support.” Choue also thanked the different groups that helped Hakizimana along the way. “We congratulate Parfait on his achievement and would like to acknowledge the work put in by the IPC, World Taekwondo, the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, and the Rwandan Taekwondo Federation,” Choue said.

Refugee Para Player is on Track for Tokyo Burundian teaches Taekwondo in camp in Rwanda, inspires displaced youth (Jul. 1, 2021)

Para Taekwondo star Parfait Hakizimana, a Burundian refugee living in Rwanda, was named to the Paralympic Refugee Team this afternoon. Living in a camp for internally displaced people in 1996 because of the Burundian Civil War, he lost his mother and suffered an injury that left his arm permanently debilitated when he was just eight. Fearing for his life, he later left the country permanently when unrest in Burundi flared up again in 2015. He has since been living at the Mahama Refugee Camp – where day-to-day life can be difficult – in Rwanda ever since. “Refugees don’t have a lot,” he told the UN refugee agency UNHCR. “But sport helps them forget their troubles.”

The Refugee Paralympic Team represents more than 82 million people worldwide that have been forced to flee war, persecution, and human rights abuses – 12 million of whom live with a disability. Parfait joins a team of six refugees for the Paralympics. It also includes: • Ibrahim Al Hussein – Syrian refugee living in Greece – Para Swimming •Alia Issa – Syrian refugee living in Greece – Para Athletics • Abbas Karimi – Afghan refugee living in the USA – Para Swimming • Anas Al Kahlifa – Syrian refugee living in Germany – Para Canoe • Shahrad Nasajpour – Iranian refugee living in the USA – Para Athletics

The athletes were introduced by famous celebrities in a special video announcement. Hakizimana was introduced by opera singer Barbara Hendricks. “Parfait – you are a wonderful role model for refugees,” she said in the announcement video. “We are so happy to see that you will be competing in Tokyo for the Refugee Paralympic Team. Good luck!” WT President ‘Thrilled’ Hendricks’ sentiment was shared by World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “We are thrilled with the announcement that Burundian refugee Parfait Hakizimana will be representing the Refugee Team at the Tokyo Paralympic Games this summer,” Choue said. “Few athletes have had to overcome the conditions of Hakizimana, who until recently lived, taught, and trained in Rwanda’s Mahama Refugee Camp.” Choue noted that the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF), created by World Taekwondo in 2016, has supported Hakizimana, who is now a THF coach. “World Taekwondo remains committed to empowering refugees through Taekwondo, which is why we started the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation in the first place,” he said. “Many refugees around the world, including those

Meet Parfait Hakizimana Until a few months ago, Hakizimana was based in the Mahama Refugee Camp – the biggest in Rwanda with over 50,000 refugees. More recently, he has been training in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. At the camp, Hakizimana organized a Taekwondo school and has trained over 1,000 refugee children. He has also prepared himself for elite competitions. He competed in the 2017 African Open Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, where he won his first match before losing to No. 1-seeded, 3-time World Champion Aythami Santana Santana of Spain 18-12 in the -61kg K44 division quarterfinal. Hakizimana’s participation in Tokyo is contingent on his reclassification by Aug. 1. As a refugee, it has been hard to receive the necessary visas to travel to tournaments, making classification challenging. World Taekwondo confirmed that he will be reclassified before the deadline. The Refugee Paralympic Team “The athletes exemplify how change starts with sport: they have suffered life-changing injuries, fled for their safety and undertaken dangerous journeys, but despite the many barriers put in their way, they have become elite athletes ready to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games,” Andrew Parsons, IPC president, said in a statement: The Refugee Paralympic Team will compete under the IPC flag and will be the first team to enter Japan National Stadium during the Opening Ceremony. The Refugee Paralympic Team honors the legacy of Paralympic Games founder Sir Ludwig Guttman, who was himself a refugee forced to flee Germany during the 1930s. Welcomed in his new home in Britain, he founded one of the world’s great movements – Paralympic sports.

‘We Have Wings’ 2020 Paralympic Games Open

TOKYO, Japan (Aug. 24, 2021)

Athletes from more than 160 countries filled Japan’s Olympic Stadium for the moving and vibrant opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, entitled,“We Have Wings.” The Games mark the long-awaited arrival of Para Taekwondo on the premier global stage for Para sports. Para Taekwondo is the only full contact sport on the programme, featuring 73 athletes from 37 countries fighting across six weight categories (three male and three female) over three days of competition, Sept. 2-4, at the Makuhari Messe Hall B in Chiba, a Tokyo suburb. Para Taekwondo athletes who carried their country’s flag in the athletes’ parade included Denmark’s fourtime World Champion Lisa Gjessing, Mexico’s teenage reigning World Champ Juan Diego Garcia Lopez, Peru’s 2019 Para Pan Am Champ Angelica Espinoza, Aruba’s always entertaining Elliot Loonstra, Kazakhstan’s two time reigning World Champion Nurlan Dombayev, and one of the Solomon Islands’ Solomon Jagiri or Jeminah Otoa – the only two athletes representing their nation in Tokyo. 72

Joint Paralympic Workshop Held for Coaches and Officials SEOUL, Korea (Aug. 17, 2021)

World Taekwondo on Aug. 17 hosted a Joint Paralympic Workshop for approximately 60 coaches and international technical officials ahead of the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. Para Taekwondo will make its historic Paralympic Games debut in Tokyo and the workshop was an opportunity to run through important rules and procedures. A total of 30 referees (15 male and 15 female) from 30 countries will officiate the competitions in Tokyo. Just as at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, World Taekwondo is sending an equal number of male and female referees to advance gender equality in the Olympic and Paralympic movements. The workshop began with opening remarks from World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “Today, I wish to congratulate the 73 athletes from 37 countries who have qualified, including our first ever refugee Paralympic athlete from Rwanda. “World Taekwondo is recognised as one of the fairest international federations in the world because of our innovative technology to deliver fair competitions. We also have some of the best technical officials who have passed strict requirements and education to be selected as a Paralympic referee. It is a huge honor for you, your family, and also for your country. “Your mission as referees is simple – make the most objective judgment and do your best to eliminate human error. You must study as many case studies as you can and prepare yourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. For the coaches, good luck as you prepare your athletes with the best possible preparations for the Games.” Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Technical Delegate Chakir Chelbat followed Choue in providing some opening remarks before an overview was given of the COVID-19 procedures at the Games. Other important subjects covered were Roles, Responsibilities and Ethics and Competition Rules by Chakir Chelbat; Games Procedures by Usman Dildar, vice chair of the Para Taekwondo Committee; and Medical Procedures by Dr. Dae Hyoun Jeong, chair of the Medical Committee. The second half of the workshop was a discussion and Q&A. World Taekwondo’s participation in the Paralympic Games has been a dream 12 years in the making, since the first Para Taekwondo World Championships were held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in June 2009.

Inaugural Paralympic Head of Team Meeting Takes Place CHIBA, Japan (Aug. 31, 2021)

epresentatives of Para Taekwondo’s finest athletes were on hand at Chiba’s Makuhari Messe on Aug. 31 to get the final details ahead of the sport’s long-awaited debut at the Paralympic Games on Thursday. World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue provided welcome remarks at the Head of Team Meeting before personally greeting each delegate of the 37 teams individually. “I am so happy to be here,” he told the room, “and to see so many of you here – especially representatives from our Refugee and Afghan teams.” Then it was down to business and a run down of the learn procedures, technical rules, and other relevant details Hiroaki Onohara, Sport Manager at Tokyo 2020, provided welcome remarks before Technical Delegate Chakir Chelbat provided a detailed account of competition rules. Other speakers included Para Taekwondo Committee Vice Chair and Games Chair Usman Dildar and World Taekwondo Medical Chair Dr. Dae Hyoun Jeong. The random draw to assign seeds to the unseeded athletes came at the end of the meeting.

Afghan Athlete Smashes Odds to Fight at Paralympics Global sporting world helps Khudadadi to escapes chaos and compete in Tokyo

Aug. 29, 2021

Captured image on IPC website 76

World Taekwondo today praised the collective efforts of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Centre for Sports and Human Rights, and multiple governments in working with the federation to ensure Afghanistan Para Taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi can compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. World Taekwondo was one of the several parties involved in ensuring that members of the Afghanistan delegation, whose home country is embroiled in political turmoil, were able to travel to Tokyo. Khudadadi was joined by Para Athlete Hossain Rasouli and Chef de Mission Arian Sadiqi. Khudadadi and Rasouli will compete under the Afghan flag; Kuhdadadi will become the first female Para athlete to represent her country when she competes in the K44 W-49kg competition on Sept. 2. “Thanks to the outstanding efforts of several governments, the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, Human Rights for All, the French Paralympic Committee, the British Paralympic Association, World Taekwondo, Zakia and Hossain are now in Tokyo to fulfil their dreams, sending out a strong message of hope to many others around the world,” said International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons. Due to the high risks and safety of the athletes and officials, the whole operation was kept a secret until the delegation safely arrived in Tokyo. “World Taekwondo is delighted to have been able to play a part in ensuring Zakia and Hossain can come to Tokyo and be a part of these historic Paralympic Games,” said World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “At World Taekwondo, we believe strongly that everyone should have access to sport irrespective of their gender, nationality or ability. Zakia and Hossain’s determination to overcome adversity is an inspiration to all of us.” He added: “We thank the IPC and the Centre for Sports and Human Rights, and the countless others for their meaningful collaboration. We are proud to have been part of this partnership. Working together, sport can play a powerful role in promoting peace and inspiring hope.” 77

Tokyo Paralympics Day 1

Americas Triumph as Taekwondo Crowns First Paralympians CHIBA, Japan (Sept. 2, 2021 )

ere are your answers for the trivia question: “Who were Para Taekwondo’s first Paralympic champions?” Peru’s Leonor Angelica Espinosa and Brazil’s Nathan Torquato rose to the occasion to become the first-ever Paralympic gold medalists on a day that saw emotions range from pure joy to agonising anguish.

The 23-year-old Espinosa was dominant in her three-win route to victory, outscoring her opponents 135-49, including Turkey’s reigning European Champion Meryem Cavdar 34-21 in the final, to leave no doubt who is on top of the W-49kg division. “I came here to win gold,” she said after receiving that medal. “I’m delighted to have been able to do this for Peru.” Espinosa becomes Peru’s first medalist at Tokyo 2020 and also won the country’s first Paralympic medal since Athens 2004 and its first gold medal since Sydney 2000. “I only started five years ago,” she said. “It’s been a lot of training, but the training has paid off.” It’s been a superb run of form for the 2019 Para Pan Am champ, who has lost just once over the last three years – to Cavdar, in the 2019 European Championship final.

Tokyo Paralympics Day 1 For Brazil’s Torquato, Tokyo is Just the Start The talented 20-year-old emerged at the top of a stacked M-61kg group that included Mongolia’s four-time reigning champion Bolor-Erdene Ganbat and Turkey’s reigning European Champion Mahmut Bozteke to claim the category’s inaugural Paralympic title. “I told you so!” a beaming Torquato said right after collecting his gold medal. “Pure joy is what I feel right now. I think I’m not at my best yet – and that makes me really, really excited.” The young champ was clearly confident. “It’s just a matter of time before I dominate the weight class and become one of the undisputed fighters, like Mehdi [Pourrahnama, Iran’s fourtime M-75kg world champion].” Afghan and Refugee Fighters Inspire the World A throng of international media were on hand at Makuhari Messe to witness the remarkable accomplishments of both Zakia Khudadadi, whose harrowing journey to Tokyo made international headlines last week, and Refugee Paralympic Team Athlete Parfait Hakizimana, who became the first athlete to compete at the Paralympic Games to come directly from a refugee camp. Hakizimana was reflective after losing his first match. “To come here a lot of people helped me,” he said. “I would like to thank the children that I teach back in Rwanda – they helped me. And

I want to thank the refugees around the world – I hope that people love each other through sport.” Khudadadi impressed in her two fights. She was leading six-time World Champion Vika Marchuk by 12 points before a disastrous third round saw the veteran Ukrainian advance. “Of course, I have concerns and I worry about the situation in Afghanistan right now,” Marchuk said when asked about fighting Khudadadi. “I’m so happy that my opponent was able to make it here to compete with me.” Both Marchuk and France’s Bopha Kong shone on Para Taekwondo’s first day of Paralympic action, as both fighters won two fights on their way to the bronze medal matches. Marchuk fell to RPC’s Anna Poddubskaia for one of the W-49 kg bronzes, while Kong hung with RPC’s No. 4-ranked Daniil Sidorov, before falling 33-23 to miss out on bronze. The veteran Kong admitted that age had taken its toll. “I started in 2000 and now I’m 40. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years.” he said. “My body hurts everywhere. Every day I have to ice everything, everyday for a few hours.” Kong has already starred in Paris 2024 advertisements for the French Paralympic Committee. Asked whether he had it in him to compete for three more years, the Para Taekwondo legend has a plan. “This is my goal. And this is my challenge”, he said, before adding, “But after that – I stop!”

Tokyo Paralympics Day 2

Gjessing, Garcia Lopez Rise to the Occasion CHIBA, Japan (Sept. 3, 2021)

here were surprises on Day 2 of the Paralympic Games but at the end, it was two of the sport’s biggest stars that ended up as Paralympic champions. Both of today’s categories featured highly anticipated matchups between the division’s strongest fighters, allowing Denmark’s Lisa Gjessing and Mexico’s Juan Diego Garcia Lopez to settle any debate as to who is the top fighter in their division. Gjessing came into the event with something to prove after seeing her seven-year winning streak snapped by Brazilian star Silvana Cardoso. In a chess match of strategic taekwondo, Gjessing managed to edge past her talented rival 8-6 in a semi-final that will be studied for years to come. The tense encounter saw neither fighter put together a lead of more than three points. The new Paralympic champ said that Cardoso’s billing as “the hottest fighter in Para Taekwondo right now,” fueled her desire to win. “I wanted to say – it’s gonna be not true,” she said with a laugh. She would put an exclamation point on her sterling career with a 32-14 win over British newcomer Beth Munro to complete her quest for Paralympic gold. “I can’t describe having this goal for so many years and now standing here with the gold medal – it’s crazy,” she said. Likewise, the M-75kg final featured a masterclass of strategy and skill between the two fighters that have claimed every world championship in the division for the last decade. The long-awaited matchup was the first time reigning World Champion Garcia Lopez had faced Iran’s four-time World Champion Mehdi Pourrahnama. “It was a hard game, very strategic,” the teenage Paralympic champ said afterwards. “I knew that it was complicated but

not impossible. I had to focus – I couldn’t lose my mind because then he’d attack … I don’t have words to describe all the happiness I have right now.” It was a stinging defeat for the “Iranian Hurricane,” who hasn’t missed a world championship since competing at Para Taekwondo’s first worlds as a 13-year-old in 2009. Brazilian Paralympic champ Nathan Torquato mentioned the night before that he dreamed of matching the success of Pourrahnama. “Now this division has a new No. 1,” Pourrahnama admitted afterwards. “But I figured out a few things for next time.” In the biggest surprise of the day, Great Britain’s Beth Munro – competing in just her second international competition – upended Turkey’s No. 4-ranked Gamze Gurdal and China’s No. 2-ranked reigning World Champion Yujie Li on the way to her historic silver. “Originally, I never competed in any martial arts at all. Until the end of 2019, I’d never punched or kicked a person in my life, honestly!” she said.

Tokyo Paralympics Day 2

Joo Wins Bronze for Para Taekwondo's Homeland Korea, the birthplace of Taekwondo, didn’t go home emptyhanded after an impressive display by Jeong-hun Joo. After losing his first match against RPC’s No. 3-ranked Magomedzagir Isaldibirov, Joo marched through the repechage round to earn a rematch with former World Champion Isaldibirov, who had been relegated to the bronze medal match by a last-second strike in the semi-final by Garcia Lopez. “I never cried at a competition,” Joo said after winning his bronze medal. “But this time, after the game ended and all the pressure was off, I cried.” Last-second strikes became the theme of the day. Moments later, Argentina’s Juan Samorano secured bronze with a stunning last-second score against Kazakhstan flagbearer Nurlan Dombayev, denying Dombayev the chance to become the first K43 athlete to win a Paralympic medal. With Paralympic champions from Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, Samorano’s bronze makes Argentina the fourth country from the Americas to medal at the Paralympics. “It was a hard game – same as last time. Very hard and very close. He beat me by one point,” the newly minted Paralympian said afterwards, “But now, when I saw the clock at three seconds – I did everything, threw all my kicks.” China’s reigning world champion Yujie Li salvaged a bronze after falling to Munro by edging out Nepal’s Palesha Goverdhan 12-9 in the bronze medal match. Goverdhan was aiming to win Nepal’s first-ever medal at the Paralympic Games. “It’s kind of sad, but I did my best,” Goverdhan said afterwards. “To beat a world champion takes a lot of guts, but I think I did really good but unfortunately missed the last kick.” In the other bronze medal match, Silvana Cardoso secured Brazil’s second medal by beating Turkey’s No. 2-ranked Gamze Gurdal. “I was aiming for gold, definitely, but I knew it’d be a tough fight [with Gjessing],” she said. “Whatever the results, we wanted a medal. We reset our mindset and aimed for [bronze].”

Tokyo Paralympics Day 3

Asia Victorious on Final Day of Para Taekwondo CHIBA, Japan (Sept. 4, 2021)

he international medal party continued in Para Taekwondo as medals went to four new nations to bring the total to 17 separate countries holding Paralympic medals - including Paralympic champions from six different nations. Iran’s Asghar Aziziaghdam became the first Paralympic champion from Iran after topping many of the best fighters in the M+75kg category on his way to the gold medal. In a beautiful display of talent in the final against Croatia’s Ivan Mikulic, the 2013 and 2014 world champion was forced to battle back from an early deficit. He then had to turn back a furious rally from the 2015 world champ and scored a late kick to capture a dramatic Paralympic title 12-10. “I’m so happy right now – I think I could fly!” he said after winning. “I never give up. I compete to the last second. I was just lucky to connect on him.” Guljonoy Naimova, too, had to overcome the W+58kg category’s top fighters on her way to becoming the first Paralympic champion from Uzbekistan. She romped through the first three rounds, which included wins over Great Britain’s 2017 World Champion Amy Truesdale and 2019 World Championship Bronze Medalist and hometown favourite Shoko Ota of Japan, to set up a gold medal match against Brazil’s Debora Menezes. A strategic affair in the final saw Naimova capture her first international title in style by beating the reigning world champion 8-4 to become the +58 g category’s first Paralympic champion. “Recently we celebrated the Independence Day of Uzbekistan and I wanted to congratulate my country by winning Paralympic gold,” she said. “I am so happy right now.” Australia’s Watson, USA’s Medell Highlight Bronze Medal Winners Top-seeded players in both divisions fell at the semi-final stage, with Truesdale losing 60-14 to Naimova and the USA’s Evan Medell dropping a 28-9 decision to Mikulic. Both fighters rebounded to make sure they didn’t leave Tokyo emptyhanded.

Tokyo Paralympics Day 3

Truesdale beat Iran’s Rayehe Shahab 41-31 to capture W+58 g bronze, while Medell edged out Costa Rica’s Alfred Molina 13-11 for M+75kg bronze. Medell became the fifth athlete from the Americas medal in Tokyo, following athletes from Peru, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. “I’m disappointed for sure,” the No. 1-ranked Medell said after collecting his medal. “But I finished with a win, so I’m happy – I’m in a good mood.” Australia’s Janine Watson, already aworld champion in poomsae, captured a memorable Paralympic bronze in her final international tournament by beating Ukraine’s Yuliya Lypetska. “It’s very, very rare to have both a a world championship in poomsae and a Paralympic [medal],” she said. “I don’t think many Olympic champions also have a poomsae world championship - I’d like to see some Olympic champions try to do some poomsae patterns.” Zainutdin Ataev of RPC beat Mexico’s Francisco Pedroza to capture the other M+75kg bronze. The 2013 world champion gave the team its third bronze medal of the tournament. Broad Medal Spectrum Showcasing the sport’s global appeal, athletes from 17 different countries representing every continental union won a medal at Para Taekwondo’s Paralympic debut. Led by Paralympic Champion Nathan Torquato, Brazil led the way with a medal of every colour. Remarkably, Brazil did not have a dedicated Para Taekwondo programme until 2017. The sport demonstrated that athletes from anywhere in the world can compete at this elite level, with memorable appearances from the Refugee Team’s Parfait Hakizimana and Afghanistan’s Zakia Khudadadi. The sport’s first ever Paralympic champions - Peru’s Leonor Angelica Espinosa, Brazil’s Nathan Torquato, Denmark’s Lisa Gjessing, Mexico’s Juan Diego Garcia Lopez, Uzbekistan’s Guljonoy Naimova, and Iran’s Asghar Aziziaghdam - have enshrined their names in Taekwondo history.

Gjessing’s Dream Becomes Reality at Long Last

Choue Meets Afghan Paralympian

CHIBA, Japan (Sept. 4, 2021)

CHIBA, Japan (Sept. 2, 2021)

World Taekwondo President Choue met with Para Taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi on the first day of Para Taekwondo competition at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. During the meeting he presented her with a specially customised black belt. Choue congratulated Zakia on her perseverance and performance, and encouraged her to aim for Paris 2024.

Danish Para Taekwondo legend Lisa Gjessing added to her impressive medal collection at the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 when she claimed the ultimate prize - Paralympic gold. The Dane won the women’s K44 -58kg title, adding to her four World Championship and three European Champion titles. Following her historic victory, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue met with Gjessing in Tokyo. Choue congratulated her and discussed her plans for the future now she has won it all. Gjessing competed for Denmark in the 2001 and 2003 World Taekwondo Championships. However, in 2007 she was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, and underwent different treatments before, in 2012, her lower left arm was amputated. She entered the World Para Taekwondo Championships in Switzerland in 2013 where she won gold - and has not looked back since, making her one of Para Taekwondo’s brightest stars.

WT, THF Head Congratulates Refugee Star Just competing in Tokyo was a victory for Burundian refugee and camp coach CHIBA, Japan (Sept. 4, 2021)

World Taekwondo President and Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation Chairman Chungwon Choue made a point of meeting with Para Taekwondo athlete Parfait Hakizimana, a Burundian refugee living in Rwanda, during the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. Choue praised Hakizimana for all he has achieved and presented him with a black belt in Chiba on the last day of competition at Tokyo 2020. Though Hakizimana had lost his first match at Tokyo 2020 in the M-61kg on Sept. 2 , he reflected positively on his experience. “To come here, a lot of people helped me,” he said. “I would like to thank the children that I teach at my refugee camp back in Rwanda – they helped me. And I want to thank the refugees around the world – I hope that people love each other through sport.” Hakizimana lived in a camp for internally displaced people from 1996 because of the Burundian Civil War. He lost his mother and suffered an injury to his arm when he eight years old. Fearing for his life, he later left the country permanently when unrest in Burundi flared up again in 2015. He has since been living at the Mahama Refugee Camp in Rwanda. The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation has supported Hakizimana and he is now a THF coach. At the camp he organised a taekwondo school and has trained over 1,000 refugee children.

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Tokyo 2020:

third-round lead. Some athletes showed that sheer talent can take you to the sport’s highest levels. Great Britain’s Beth Munro took up the sport just months before the European Paralympic Qualification tournament was scheduled in Spring 2020. She joined the national team weeks ahead of the rescheduled tournament in Spring 2021 and then beat two of the division’s top 3 fighters, including reigning World Champion Li, on her way to a silver in just her second international tournament. Australia’s Janine Watson, already a poomsae world champion, added a Paralympic bronze in kyorugi to become the first athlete to medal at the highest stage of both Para Taekwondo disciplines.

Lessons Learned

Anyone Can Lose

CHIBA, Japan (Sept. 4, 2021)

tunning shows of strategy and skill, inspiring examples of power and grit, last-second comebacks and legend-making performances – the world was wowed by Para Taekwondo’s dizzying spin kicks and nail-biting finishes at Tokyo 2020. Besides becoming the Para sport movement’s newest must-see event. here’s what else we learned from the sport’s Paralympic debut.

Anyone Can Win A quick look at the Paralympic medal table shows just how global Para Taekwondo has become. With 24 medals on offer, athletes from 17 nations won honors – with every continental union seeing at least one athlete step onto the Tokyo 2020 medal podium. Moreover, athletes from non-traditional Paralympic nations thrived in Para Taek92 92

wondo’s Paralympic debut. Peru’s Para Pan Am champion Leonor Angelica Espinoza won her nation its first medal since Athens 2004 and its first gold medal since Sydney 2000. Croatia’s 2017 World Champion Ivan Mikulic nearly claimed Croatia’s sole gold medal at the Paralympics. A late scoring kick by Iran’s two-time World Champion Asghar Aziziaghdam denied him M+75kg gold, but Mikulic’s silver was Croatia’s best result and he carried the country’s flag into the closing ceremony. Nepal’s Palesha Goverdhan nearly claimed her nation’s first-ever Paralympic medal, falling to China’s reigning World Champion Yujie Li on a late score to miss out on a W-58kg bronze. Our K43 stars proved that they can compete with their K44 counterparts. Four K43 athletes fought for medals, with none coming closer than Kazakhstan’s two-time World Champion Nurlan

Dombayev, who lost bronze on a last-second kick by Argentina’s Juan Samorano.

Everyone is Invited The sport showed you can compete at a high level regardless of where you train. Elliot Loonstra famously prepared on Aruba’s sandy beaches ahead of his appearance as his country’s only Paralympic athlete. Burundian refugee Parfait Hakizimana became the first to compete at the Paralympic Games to come directly from a refugee camp when he arrived from the Mahama Refugee Camp in Rwanda. Afghanistan’s Zakia Khudadadi’s dramatic journey to Tokyo captured international headlines as she became one of Tokyo 2020’s biggest stories. She nearly toppled Ukraine’s six-time World Champion Vika Marchuk, before squandering a

In a surprise to many, just one 2019 world champion was able to replicate their success at Tokyo 2020. Mexico’s teenage superstar Diego Garcia Lopez became Para Taekwondo’s only reigning world and Paralympic champion by beating Iran’s four-time legend Mehdi Pourrahnama 26-20 in an entertaining M-75kg final. And even he looked vulnerable in Tokyo! Were it not for a champion-defining last-second strike against RPC’s 2013 World Champion Magomedzagir Isaldibirov in the semi-final, Para Taekwondo wouldn’t have had its first dual champion. The agonies suffered by several star athletes stand as testament to the quality on display at Tokyo 2020. Mongolia’s four-time World Champion Bolor-Erdene Ganbat – who had never lost a fight at the worlds – failed to secure a medal at his first Paralympic Games after being stung by a late strike by Turkey’s Mahmut Bozteke in a M-61kg bronze semi-final. Ganbat’s 2017 world champion teammate – the No. 1-ranked Enkhtuya Khurelbaatar – also failed to medal after falling to Thailand’s reigning World Champion Khwansuda Phuangkitcha in a W-49 kg bronze semi-final. Great Britain’s No. 1-ranked 2017 World Champion Amy Truesdale fell to Uzbekistan’s Guljonoy Naimova 60-14 in a startling W+58kg semi-final result.

It was no easier for China’s Yujie Li. The reigning world champion was stunned in the W-58 kg semi-final by British newcomer Munro and needed a late score against Nepal’s No. 28-ranked Goverdhan to secure a bronze medal. There is simply very, very little room between the sport’s top fighters on any given day.

Classic Battles Dazzle Some of the finest fights the sport has ever seen took place at Tokyo’s Makuhari Messe. From strategic chess matches, to dizzying displays of athleticism, to dramatic last-second wins – the sport delivered some of the 2020 Paralympic Games’ most exciting moments. Teams will be poring over the tapes of the Garcia Lopez-Pourrahnama M-75kg final, the Mikulic-Aziziaghdam M+75kg final, and the W-58kg semi-final between Denmark’s Paralympic Champion Lisa Gjessing and Brazil’s rising star Silvana Cardoso as fine displays of the strategy involved in Para Taekwondo. Some fights featured stunning flashes of technique and skill that will be featured in Para Taekwondo highlight videos for years to come. If you didn’t get to see the Ganbat-Bozteke fight, the high-octane M-61kg semi-final between Italy’s Antonino Bossolo and Brazil’s Paralympic Champion Nathan Torquato, or the bruising W+58 gold medal match between Brazil’s World Champion Debora Menezes and Uzbekistan’s new Paralympic Champion Guljonoy Naimova, be sure to. It wouldn’t be Para Taekwondo if there weren’t heart-in-your-throat, nail-biting finishes – and Tokyo 2020 had more than its fair share. Among the most memorable were Garcia Lopez booking his ticket to the M-75kg final with a late strike on Isaldibirov, Samorano’s medal-winning kick in the M-75kg bronze medal match, and Bozteke’s last-second strike to stop Ganbat from fighting for bronze. Hats off to all the athletes who made sure that Para Taekwondo dazzled during its Paralympic debut.

Para Taekwondo is Here to Stay History was made at Tokyo 2020 as Para Taekwondo crowned its first six Paralympic champions. But just as quickly as questions were answered at Tokyo 2020, many more were raised. Was the M-75kg final between Garcia Lopez and Pourrahnama the beginning of what could become the sport’s most competitive and compelling rivalry? Will Gjessing stick around to try to defend her Paralympic title in front of her family at Paris 2024? If she does, will she be able to stay ahead of talented young challengers like Cardoso and Munro? Who will emerge as the cream of the W+58kg category – Paralympic Champion Naimova, World Champion Menezes, or No. 1-ranked Truesdale – or will someone else join that elite group? What will happen when Great Britain’s reigning World Champion Matt Bush returns to the topsy-turvy M+75 g category that just crowned Aziziaghdam its first Paralympic champion? Can Ganbat reclaim his spot at the top of the M-61kg category? Or will Torquato hold him and his other challengers at bay at the top of the sport’s most competitive division? Can anyone catch Peru’s Paralympic and Para Pan Am champ Leonor Angelica Espinoza, who has owned the W-49 g category for the last two years? Gjessing has credited watching the London 2012 Paralympic Games for helping her get through her amputation and leading her along the journey to winning a Paralympic medal. How many athletes around the world have been inspired by the fantastic performances of our Paralympians this summer and might follow that same, life-changing journey? One thing’s for certain – Para Taekwondo left an unforgettable impression on audiences around the world at Tokyo 2020. Stand by for Paris 2024.

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Paralympic Games Gallery

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After Tokyo Triumph, (Nov. 19, 2021)

Para Taekwondo

Expands at Paris 2024

Talk

about an excellent result: The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board announced on Nov. 19 that Para Taekwondo’s medal events will be increased from six to 10, and the athlete quota increased from 72 to 120 for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The announcement came as the IPC Governing Board approved the complete medal events programme and athlete quotas for Paris 2024, following consultation with the IOC and the Paris 2024 Organising Committee. At Paris 2024, there will be five men’s and five women’s weight categories with a quota of 12 athletes per category.

The men’s categories are: K44-58kg, K44-63kg, K4470kg, K44-80kg, K44+80kg. The women’s categories are: K44-47kg, K44-52kg, K44-57kg, K44-65kg and K44+65kg. “We are delighted that Para Taekwondo’s medal events and athlete quota has been increased for Paris 2024,” said a very happy World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “This decision is a tribute to all the Paralympians who made Para Taekwondo such a great success at our Paralympic debut in Tokyo.”

PARA TAEKWONDO MEDAL EVENTS

ATHLETE QUOTA

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New-Look Para Taekwondo Takes Stage at 2021 World Championships ISTANBUL, Turkey (Dec. 10, 2021)

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orld Para Taekwondo’s biggest event returns as over 250 athletes from 40+1 countries step onto the long, hard path to Paris 2024 in earnest at the 2021 World Para Taekwondo Championships. The 2021 Worlds feature Para Taekwondo’s new look – more weight categories, different classifications, and updated rules. The G-14 event in Istanbul, Turkey, on Dec. 11-12 will offer athletes major rankings points in their bids to qualify for Paris 2024. One of Para Taekwondo’s traditional powers, Turkey, was the only country to qualify six athletes to Tokyo 2020. The host nation will send a record-breaking 58 athletes to the 2021 World Championships. It is the third time Turkey is hosting Para Taekwondo’s biggest event, following Samsun 2015 and Antalya 2019. Istanbul 2021 is set to become the second-biggest Para Taekwondo event of all-time. The 2019 World Championships featured 333 athletes `– which will not be included at Istanbul 2021. With new poomsae rules passed just last week, the next Poomsae World Championships will be held in 2022. For the first time, a refugee will be competing under the World Taekwondo flag. Newcomer Ahmad Rafiq Aladaji, from Syria but based in Turkey, will compete for the World Taekwondo Refugee Team. On the downside, the pandemic continues to plague the sport. Due to travel restrictions related to COVID-19. and the newly identified Omicron variant, at least four teams had to withdraw before travelling – Afghanistan, Ghana, Japan, and Morocco.

New Look for Para Taekwondo Proving Para Taekwondo’s growing global appeal, several nations besides host Turkey will be sending record-sized teams. Russia (30), Brazil (17), India (11), Kazakhstan (10), Serbia (10), Kenya (9), Niger (9), Georgia (6), Poland (3), Romania (1), and the World Taekwondo Refugee Team (one) all set records for numbers of athletes registered at the event.

Since Tokyo 2020, Para Taekwondo has updated its classification and weight categories. Most athletes previously classified as K43 (impairments on both arms below the elbow) and K42 (impairment on one arm above the elbow) will join their K44 (impairment on one arm below the elbow) rivals in a single, new “super” K44 classification. Any athlete that has not been classified since the conclusion of Tokyo 2020 must undergo classification before competing at the 2021 World Championships. The three weight categories per gender seen at Tokyo 2020 have been replaced by five weight categories per gender that will feature at Paris 2024.

The New Paralympic Categories: Women: -47kg, -52kg, -57kg, -65kg, +65kg Men: -58kg, -63kg, -70kg, -80kg, +80kg What to Expect With just three years before Paris 2024, the 2021 World Championships have attracted the vast majority of current and former world champions, Paralympians, and top fighters. Even so, there are also a lot of empty name slots. The biggest names missing from Istanbul 2021 are four-time world champion and Paralympic champion Lisa Gjessing of Denmark, Paralympic champion Leonor Angelica Espinoza of Peru, reigning world champions Matt Bush of Great Britain and Yujie Li of China, Paralympic bronze medalist Juan Samorano of Argentina and Paralympian Andres Molina of Costa Rica. That leaves up-and-comers with the opporuntity to earn big ranking points to shoot to the top of the seedings in the new weight divisions.

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Day-1

2021 World Para Taekwondo Championships in Istanbul

Paralympic Revenge for Israel and Mongolia ISTANBUL, Turkey (Dec. 12, 2021)

here might have been no bigger surprise at Tokyo 2020 than Mongolia’s four-time World Champion Bolor-Erdene Ganbat crashing out without a medal. He left no surprises at in Istanbul. Ganbat had something to prove - and showed why he is one of the most feared fighters in the sport after a dominant run to his fifth straight world title. After getting the day started with a 15-0 opening match win, Ganbat used heavy kicks and dazzling technique to leave his next three opponents on the mat and unable to continue, including Paralympic Champion Nathan Torquato of Brazil. “I may not have won a medal at the Paralympic Games,” said an excited Ganbat after the match. “But I won my fifth world championship! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who trusted and supported me and happy 30th anniversary, Mongolian Taekwondo!” Brazil’s Silvana Cardoso announced her arrival at the top of the women’s game with a dominant run to the W-57kg world title, outscoring her opponents 52-1 before edging out hometown favourite Gamze Gurdal 15-12 in a nervy final. Thailand’s Khwansuda Phuangkitcha won her second straight world title, announcing that she could be the top threat to challenge Paralympic Champion Leonor Angelica Espinoza of Peru – who did not compete in Istanbul – in the Paris 2024 qualification cycle. Phuangkitcha bested some of the W-47kg division’s top fighters along the way, including European Champion Dzetsun-Sholbana Kara-Ool of Russia and 2017 World Champion Enkhtuya Khurelbaatar of Mongolia. Israel became the latest country to join the list of Para Taekwondo world champions after Asaf Yasur bested all comers in the competitive M-58kg category. Yasur, who trains with Israel’s Olympic Taekwondo team, outlasted 2019 World Championship Bronze Medalist Ali Can Ozcan 57-42 in the day’s most entertaining and highest-scoring match. Within a single kick

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for much of the match until a break in the final 45 seconds, Yasur pulled away at the end to win by 15. Some inspirational coaching helped. “Coach asked me, ‘Who wants it more?’” he said after the match. “You’re faster than anyone, you’re stronger than anyone. Don’t stop attacking … if he kicks you, you kick more!” It’s a remarkable achievement for Yasur who failed to qualify for the Paralympic Games and lost to Ozcan by 20 points in their previous fight. The win was a testament of the effectiveness of the new “Super” K44 classification that combines athletes formerly classified as K44, K43, and K42 into the same division. Yasur, formerly K43, becomes the first athlete not under the former K44 class to win a world title. “I think it’s a great idea. I’m happy that it’s mixed,” he said after receiving his gold medal. “You need to win with what you got.” Taekwondo’s profile has never been higher in Israel, after Avishag Semberg won the nation’s first Olympic medal in the sport at Tokyo 2020. Turkish Paralympic silver medalist Meryem Cavdar continued her fine run, becoming the inaugural world champion in the W-52 g category. Cavdar bested Paralympic Bronze Medalist Anna Poddubskaia of Russia 14-7 to win her first world title. Paralympic champion Angelica Espinoza of Peru did not compete. In addition to Cavdar’s gold, Turkey took home nine medals on day one, adding six silver and three bronzes. Paralympian Gamze Gurdal gave World Champion Silvana Cardoso of Brazil fits before falling in the W-57 kg final. “My strategy was sound. I was determined to not lose to her for a third time,” she said. “This is home. I left everything on the court.” Turkey’s Paralympic Bronze Medalist Mahmut Bozteke won his second straight world championship bronze medal, falling to Antonino Bossolo of Italy, 8-5, in the semi-final. “In Tokyo, every match was like a final,” he said. “You want to win at home. I was really disappointed [to not win gold].”

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2021 World Para Taekwondo Championships in Istanbul

Clash of the Super Rivals ISTANBUL, Turkey (Dec. 12, 2021)

ighly anticipated rivalry matches punctuated a day where the speed, strategy, and power of Para Taekwondo took centre stage at the 2021 World Para Taekwondo Championships. In a grudge match that had the entire arena buzzing, the two men who have, combined, captured every major tournament since 2014 met in the M-70 g final in a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 category final. This time, Iran’s Mehdi Pourrahanama was able to turn the tables in a tense 3-0 fight to hand Paralympic Champion Juan Diego Garcia Lopez of Mexico his second loss in three years. Up 1-0 with less than five seconds remaining in the fight, Pourrahnama landed the only scoring kick before the buzzer to cap a demonstration of Para Taekwondo at its most strategic. “I’m satisfied I got my revenge – the ‘Prince of Persia’ is back!” a buzzing Pourrahnama said afterwards. “All the other athletes think that he’s the best. I showed everyone that I may not be the best – but I’m not bad.” Naimova Adds World Title to Paralympic Crown In another hotly anticipated rematch, Paralympic Champion Guljonoy Naimova of Uzbekistan once again got the best of 2017 World Champion Amy Truesdale of Great Britain – although this time it was far closer. Naimova bested Truesdale in dominant fashion at the Paralympic Games to announce her arrival among the elite in the division. The W+65kg final at the 2021 World Championships confirmed this as a rivalry worth watching. Truesdale was able to get past 2019 World Champion Debora Menezes of Brazil in a captivating semi-final to set-up the salivating rematch.

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In a back-and-forth encounter that showcased the athleticism of the division’s elite, Naimova was able to pull ahead in the final minute to become Para Taekwondo’s only reigning World and Paralympic champion. “I’m in shock,” she said after her win. “The excitement is higher at the Worlds than at the Paralympic Games because of the pressure. No one expected me to win at Tokyo 2020, but here I was the target.” The expansion from three to five weight categories meant there were more opportunities for more athletes to become world champions. It also meant a shake up. This was perhaps no more evident than in the W-65kg category, which featured just one former world champion - Seyma Emeksiz Bacaksiz of Turkey. Paralympic Silver Medalist Beth Munro was the favourite coming into the weekend, but her unexpected withdrawal left the division wide open. Turkey’s Secil Er took advantage and vaulted herself to near the top of the new division’s world rankings with a decisive 12-1 victory over Leylianne Ramos dos Santos of Brazil to capture her first world title. Paralympic runner-up and 2015 World Champion Ivan Mikulic of Croatia came up just short at his second straight tournament – and for the second straight time, he fell to an Iranian opponent. Mikulic just missed out on Paralympic gold by falling to Asghar Aziziaghdam 12-10 at Tokyo 2020. He was even closer in Istanbul, losing by Superiority after fighting to a draw with Hamed Haghshenas. A perpetual also ran, Russian Magomedzagir Isaldibirov finally did the business by winning his first world championship. Runner-up at the 2014, 2017, and 2019 World Championships

– and missing out on the Tokyo 2020 final by succumbing to a last-second strike in the semi-final – Isaldibirov can at last add a world championship medal to his impressive trophy case. Isaldibirov got past a gallant effort by Joseph Lane of Great Britain by pulling away late to win 10-2. It is also the first worlds medal for Lane. For Kazakhstan’s Malik Mukashev’s, the world title has been a long time coming. Competing for years in the old K42 class against opponents with a significant limb advantage, he was reclassed to K41 in 2019. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for seven years,” a beaming Mukashev said. “K42 fighters always had an easier time blocking. Today, I just went into the final thinking ‘I must win.’” Other K41 champions include Seyedeh Nabavi of Iran in W-57 g, Dejana Backo of Serbia in W-47kg, Rinat Iakupov of Russia in M-58kg, Vladislav Krichfalushiy of Russia in M-63kg, and Victor Alexandrov of Russia in M+80kg.

Day-2

Host Turkey Tops Medal Table With a record 58 athletes competing, it’s no surprise that host Turkey topped the 2021 World Para Taekwondo Championships medal table. The hosts won two golds, six silvers and six bronzes to take the overall title with 14 medals. Russia finished in second place with 10 medals, including four golds. Brazil finished in third with seven medals, highlighted by Silvana Cardoso’s gold in -57kg. Pourrahnama was named Male MVP, while Secil Er of Turkey won Female MVP. Team Niger was awarded the Active Participation Award after sending a record six athletes to Istanbul. A highlight of the weekend was the appearance of Syrian refugee Ahmad Rafiq Aldaji, who competed in his first international tournament. In a competitive fight. He fell 8-4 to Paralympian Abulfaz Abuzarli of Azerbaijan in the Round of 32. The 2021 World Para Taekwondo Championships are a G-14 event, meaning champions receive 140 points for the world rankings.

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'Crazy Day:'

Double Amputee Kicks His Way to Golden Glory

‘I am happy, for the path I chose, for the medal, for this crazy day!’

At just 13 years’ old, Assaf Yasur’s arms were amputated at the elbow. Fast-forward six years and the Israeli kicked his way to the gold medal at the World Para Taekwondo Championships in Istanbul, Turkey - defeating the European champion along the way. Yasur, 19, beat Turkish rival Ali Can Ozcan, 57-42, to win gold in the M-58 weight category. “I still haven’t absorbed it,” Yasur said after his victory, noting he had faced five different competitors in bouts during the day to win the final. “I am happy, and I am the happiest person for the path I chose, for the medal, and for this crazy day,” Yasur said. Though Yasur did not qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, his win in Istanbul sets him on the path for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. He overcame great adversity to get himself into this position. When he was 13 years old and playing soccer with 112

his friends, their ball was kicked into an electric company installation near his home in northern Israel. Yasur climbed inside to retrieve the ball, but lost his balance as he was coming out. He grabbed a high-voltage cable to steady himself - and resulting jolt caused injuries which required both hia lower arms to be amputated. In the years that followed, he was determined to embrace a sport that required only the use of his legs. He decided on Taekwondo because of its focus on bootwork. After his story was covered by the media, he received donations in order to be fitted with two prosthetic bionic arms that he controls through brain signals. Since he became a successful and famous athlete in Israel, Yasur has become an object of admiration among the disabled in his country, and a symbol for Paralympic sports.

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Youth, Teens Surge on Day 1 of European Championships

SOFIA, Bulgaria (Apr. 10, 2021)

The opening day of the European Taekwondo Championships saw the rise of youthful Taekwondo stars with all four gold medallists being under 20 years of age. Spain’s Adriana Cerezo, just 17, overcame Romania’s Liana Musteata 6-3 in the final of the W-49kg. In the other women’s event of the day, the W-46kg, Croatia’s 19-year-old Lena Stojković beat Larisa Medvedeva from Russia 18-10 in the final. In the M-58kg, France’s 18-year-old Cyrian Ravet denied Spain a second gold medal as he beat Adrián Vicente 21-10 in the final. Meanwhile in the M-54kg, 17 year-old Omar Gergely Salim of Hungary beat Greece’s Dionysios Rapsomanikis in a dominant final which saw him win 31-9.

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Arise!

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Great Britain, Russia, Turkey Share Honors on Europeans’ Day 2

Golds for Great Britain, Russia and Belarus on Day 3 of Euros

Apr. 11, 2021

Apr. 12, 2021

Great Britain’s double Olympic Champion Jade Jones, Russia’s Tatiana Kudashova and Sarmat Tcakoev and Hakan Reçber, both of Turkey, all grabbed golds on the second day of the European Taekwondo Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. Jones beat Turkey’s Hatice Kübra Ilgün convincingly - 20-5 - in the W-57kg final. Raheleh Asemani of Belgium and Latvia’s Inese Tarvida took bronzes. In the W-53kg, Kudashova won her third European title as she overcame former World Champion Zeliha Ağrıs of Turkey, 24-17. Host nation Bulgaria’s Ilina Ivanova and Hungary’s Luca Patakfalvy won bronzes. The M-68kg saw Tcakoev cause a dramatic upset by beating Great Britain’s former World Champion Bradley Sinden, 35-26 in the final. Greece’s Konstantinos Chamalidis and Javier Pérez of Spain took bronzes. In the M-63kg, Reçber won Turkey’s first gold medal of the competition as he crowned an excellent run to the final by beating Spain’s Joan Jorquera 18-12. Belgium’s Jaouad Achab and Italy’s Simone Crescenzi won bronzes.

On the final day, Great Britain finished the European Taekwondo Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria with two gold medals while Belarus secured one and Russia won their fourth of the tournament to finish top of the overall medal table. It was the women’s categories in which Great Britain dominated on the final day of competition. Three-time World Champion Bianca Walkden won gold yet again in the W+73kg as she overcame Poland’s defending champion, Aleksandra Kowalczuk who had to withdraw due to injury. Austria’s Marlene Jahl and Belén Moran of Spain won the bronze medals. Walkden’s compatriot Rebecca McGowan won gold in the W-73kg as she beat Serbia’s double Olympic Gold Medalist Milica Mandić, 20-14. Polina Khan of Russia and Doris Pole of Croatia continued their countries’ impressive performances at the championships as they won bronze. In the M-87kg, Russia’s Yury Kirichenko ensured his country’s position on top of the medal table as he won gold, overcoming Serbia’s Mahdi Khodabakhshi who had to withdraw due to injury. Italy’s Roberto Botta and Croatia’s Ivan Šapina took the bronze medals. The M+87kg, saw Belarus’ Arman-Marshall Silla win gold in a dramatic fashion as he secured a golden point after his final against Vladislav Larin of Russia finished 9-9 after three rounds. Iván García of Spain and Andrei Garbar of Ukraine won the bronze medals on offer. With Russia top of the medal table, second place went to Great Britain and Croatia finished third.

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African Taekwondo Championships

enegal Hosts African Championships for First Time DAKAR, Senegal (Jun. 5-6, 2021)

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As well as crowning its winners as African champions, the 2021 African Taekwondo Championships in Dakar, Senegal, provided Africa’s best athletes with highly competitive matches ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Tunisia claimed the most golds, winning four over the course of the competition. Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi took the top spot in the M-58kg as he beat Morocco’s Omar Lakehal. Chaima Toumi won the W-53kg, beating Egypt’s Mennatalla Medhat in the final. Fares Boujemai won the M-63kg as he overcame Egypt’s Ahmed Nassar. And Firas Katousi won the fourth medal for his country as he beat Egypt’s Abdelrahman Elsayed in the M-74kg. One athlete who will be hoping to replicate the success he enjoyed at Rio 2016 in Tokyo 2020, is Cote d’Ivoire’s Cheick Sallah Cissé. He grabbed gold in Dakar by beating Ahmad Rawy of Egypt in M-87kg. Cissé was joined by two fellow Cote d’Ivorians in winning gold: Ruth Gbagbi beat Nigeria’s Elizabeth Anyanacho in the W-67kg, and Aminata Traoré overcame Sabah Koutbi of Morocco in the W+73kg. Egypt and Morocco matched Cote d’Ivoire’s success in winning three gold medals of their own in Dakar. For Egypt, Abdelrahman Wael won the M-68kg, Seif Eissa won the M-80kg and Shahd Samy Elhosseiny finished first in the W-46kg. While for Morocco, Oumaina El Bouchti took gold in the W-46kg, Khoulal Merime claimed the W-62kg final and Hamza El Hacham won the M-54kg. Niger won two golds with Abdoul Razak Issoufou winning the M+78kg and Tekiath Ben Yessouf winning the W-57kg. Gabon won the remaining gold on offer, as Urgence Mouega won the W-73kg.

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African Taekwondo Championships

Epic Odyssey across Africa

Lacking air fares, two athletes embarked upon a 6-country, overland trip to Dakar

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Lack of cash could not stop two Nigerian Taekwondo athletes from competing at the 2021 African Taekwondo Championships. Though the Nigerian Taekwondo Federation could not afford their travel expenses to the championships in Dakar, Senegal, the two female fighters were undaunted - and set off overland. 2015 All African Games Gold Medallist Uzoamaka Otuadinma teamed up with 2015 All African Games Bronze Medalist Ifeoma Dennis Juliet to travel over 4,000 km across six countries in order to compete. The journey took seven days as they travelled from their homes in Nigeria, which are more than 200km from the capital of Abuja. The pair met in Lagos on June 25 before travelling through Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali to get to Senegal, during which time they had to change buses numerous times in each country. They encountered many challenges along the way and faced a hard time passing check points, but remained committed to reaching Dakar. Difficult moments were interspersed with enjoyable

ones as they were able to cross the beautiful continent and see wild animals in their natural habitats. Upon arriving in Dakar, the two were tired and footsore but on time: They arrived just in time for the competition weigh-in. While the athletes did not win any medals at the championships, their dedication to Taekwondo caught the attention of World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue who was so impressed that World Taekwondo paid for the athletes’ flights back to Nigeria for a safer and more comfortable return journey. Choue also arranged to speak with the pair once they had returned to Nigeria. During the video call, Choue praised the two women for their spirit in overcoming challenges. He also encouraged them to use Taekwondo to promote social development. Choue reiterated that World Taekwondo has support funds available for financially challenged federations, and can assist in providing assistance if athletes make a request.

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Asian Taekwondo Championships

Pan American Taekwondo Championships

Medalists by Weight Category

DATE

EVENT

MEDAL

NAME

NOC

DATE

EVENT

MEDAL

NAME

NOC

JUNE 16, 2021

M-54kg

Gold

BAE Jun-seo

KOR

JUNE 03, 2021

Men -54kg

Gold

ALVAREZ Melvy

USA

Siver

LOTFI Hossen

IRI

Siver

RODRIGUEZ Cesar

MEX

Bronze

TEMIRKHAN Samat

KAZ

Bronze

SANTOS Victor

BRA

Bronze

KHALIFE Mark

LIB

Bronze

MELO Paulo

BRA

Gold

HUANG Yu-jen

TPE

Gold

PLAZA Brandon

MEX

Siver

JIN Ho-jun

KOR

Siver

OCHOA Jefferson

COL

Bronze

KAREEM Zaid

JOR

Bronze

KIM David

USA

Bronze

JAYSUNOV Jasurbek

UZB

Bronze

RAMOS Jorge

CHI

Gold

SEUNG HWAN Lee

KOR

Gold

MARTINS Icaro Miguel

BRA

Siver

DUISEBAY Smalyi

KAZ

Siver

SALAZAR Bryan

MEX

Bronze

MOHAMMAD Abdullah

SYR

Bronze

STEWART Jordan

CAN

Bronze

SALAEV Shukhrat

UZB

Bronze

PARKER Dallas

USA

Gold

ESMAEILI Negar

IRI

Gold

ALBA Rafael

CUB

Siver

KANG Mi-reu

KOR

Siver

HEALY Jonathan

USA

Bronze

KHAZAEI KOUHPAR Fereshteh

IRI

Bronze

SANSORES Carlos

MEX

Bronze

AZAMOVA Shokhsanam

UZB

Bronze

DO Robson Henrique

BRA

Gold

KAYUMOVA Charos

UZB

Gold

RAMIREZ Andrea

COL

Siver

SU Po-Ya

TPE

Siver

COSTA Brenda

MEX

Bronze

SOLTANI Ghazal

IRI

Bronze

YONG Yvette Hui Hua

CAN

Bronze

KAYANI Ghazal k.f

PLE

Bronze

SANCHO Laura

CRC

Gold

KIM Yu-Jin

KOR

Gold

SOUZA Daniela Paola

MEX

Siver

TRAN Thi anh tuyet

VIE

Siver

RODRIGUEZ Camila

COL

Bronze

KIYANICHANDEH Nahid

IRI

Bronze

BARROS Nivea

BRA

Bronze

CHEN Yu-chuang

TPE

Bronze

GONZALEZ Jackeline Ana Daniella

GUA

Gold

MYEONG Mi-na

KOR

Gold

GORMAN-SHORE Madelynn

USA

Siver

DENIZ Cansel

KAZ

Siver

ESPINOZA Maria

MEX

Bronze

ESMAEILI Zeinab

IRI

Bronze

PEREIRA Raiany

BRA

Bronze

MA Ting-Hsia

TPE

Bronze

GALACHO Raphaella

BRA

Gold

REZAEE Mohsen

AFG

Gold

SIQUEIRA Gabriele

BRA

Siver

KIM Young-hwan

KOR

Siver

ACOSTA Briseida

MEX

Bronze

HADIPOUR SEIGHALANI Armin

IRI

Bronze

RODRIGUEZ Katherine

DOM

Bronze

KHAN Haroon

PAK

Bronze

GLORIA Mosquera

COL

Gold

KIM Seokbae

KOR

Gold

NAVARRO Carlos

MEX

Siver

BAKHSHI Amir mohammad

IRI

Siver

CHANG Alejandro

USA

Bronze

JALALI Mahdi

IRI

Bronze

OLIVERO Cristian Felipe

CHI

Bronze

TUSMTOV Shakhboz

UZB

Bronze

SOUZA João Victor

BRA

Gold

MARDANI Sajjad

IRI

Gold

PAZ David Felipe

COL

Siver

BEA Yoon min

KOR

Siver

CASAS Iker

MEX

Bronze

RAHY Ray

LIB

Bronze

NKOGHO Hervan

CAN

Bronze

RADJABOV Shokhrukh

UZB

Bronze

MORALES Ignacio

CHI

Gold

TRUONG Thi kim tuyen

VIE

Gold

LIZARRAGA Rene

MEX

Siver

MANNOPOVA Madinabonu

UZB

Siver

COLON Luis

PUR

Bronze

KANG Bora

KOR

Bronze

NAVA Ruben

MEX

Bronze

HADDAD Anna

LIB

Bronze

CHURCHILLMARTINEZ Joaquin Andres

CHI

Gold

SADIKOVA Feruza

UZB

Gold

NICKOLASJR Carl

USA

Siver

JEON Chae-eun

KOR

Siver

TREJOS Miguel

COL

Bronze

JAVADI KOUCHAKSARAEI Parisa

IRI

Bronze

HERNANDEZ Moises

DOM

Bronze

LIN Ting-ru

TPE

Bronze

OSTAPIV Lucas

BRA

Gold

YOON Do hee

KOR

Gold

GREENWOOD Makayla

USA

Siver

ALORA Kirstie elaine

PHI

Siver

DIAS Leonor

BRA

Bronze

POURESMAEILKARANI Zahra

IRI

Bronze

PEDROZA Yuliena

GUA

Bronze

YERKASSIMOVA Axaule

KAZ

Bronze

GARCIA Renata

MEX

Gold

PULATOV Niyaz

UZB

Gold

PARK Skylar

CAN

Siver

ALHALAWANI Zaid

JOR

Siver

LEITE Sandy Camila

BRA

Bronze

ZAIN Hikmatullah

AFG

Bronze

AGUIRRE Fernanda

CHI

Bronze

DASHDAVAA Chinzorig

MGL

Bronze

DILLON Faith

USA

Gold

ELSHARABATY Saleh

JOR

Gold

SANTOS Caroline

BRA

Siver

LIU Wei-ting

TPE

Siver

ZOLOTIC Anastasija

USA

Bronze

PARK Woo hyeok

KOR

Bronze

FELIX PEREZ Anel Vaitiare

MEX

Bronze

RAFALOVICH Nikita

UZB

Bronze

KRAAYEVELD Ashley

CAN

Gold

AL-SADEQ Julyana

JOR

Gold

TITONELI Milena

BRA

Siver

MIRHOSSEINI VAKILI Melika

IRI

Siver

TAMEZ Victoria

MEX

Bronze

FATNASSI Maram

QAT

Bronze

PAGNOTTA Melissa

CAN

Bronze

MOKHRU Khalimova

TJK

Bronze

SOLTERO Leslie Xcaret

MEX

Men -68kg

Men -87kg

Women -46kg

Women -53kg

Women -57kg

Women -73kg

JUNE 17, 2021

Men -58kg

Men -74kg

Men +87kg

Women -49kg

Women -62kg

Women +73kg

JUNE 18, 2021

Men -63kg

Men -80kg

Women -67kg

Men -58kg

Men -87kg

Men 87kg

Women -46kg

Women -49kg

Women -73kg

Women 73kg

JUNE 04, 2021

Men -63kg

Men -68kg

Men -74kg

Men -80kg

Women -53kg

Women -57kg

Women -62kg

Women -67kg

Women’s Open Championships:

‘Historic Decision’ for Saudi Arabia (Nov. 19, 2021)

he first-ever World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championships, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from November 25, has been hailed as “historic” for sport in the kingdom. The three-day, G-4 event, the first global Taekwondo event hosted in Saudi Arabia, aimed to lure 171 athletes from 36 NOCs as well as a refugee team. As many as 20 Olympians from Tokyo 2020 were ready for Riyadh, including Silver Medallists Lauren Williams from Great Britain and Tatiana Minina from the ROC, and Bronze Medallists Tijana Bogdanovic from Serbia, Ruth Gbagbi from Cote d’Ivoire and Great Britain’s Bianca Walkden. Other notable athletes include two-time World Champion Jae-young Sim of Korea and Olympic Refugee Team athletes Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin and Dina Pouryounes Langeroudi. Eight weight categories are to be contested -46kg, -49kg, -53kg, -57kg, -62kg, -67kg, -73kg and open weight. The championship is a single-elimination system with the first two days of competition dedicated to preliminaries and semi-finals. On November 27, the last of the preliminaries and semi-finals will take place before finals in all eight weight categories. Winning athletes will secure 40.0 ranking points with second and third places taking 24 and 14.4 ranking

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points respectively. “Taekwondo is a global sport which is open to all and we pride ourselves on being gender equal,” said World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “We know we can develop Taekwondo further, and by hosting the Women’s Open Championships in Riyadh, we will help promote gender equality in the Middle East and around the world.” Ten Saudi athletes will be amongst the 171 players and 85 officials from 36 countries. The ten pioneering players representing the kingdom will be Tayba Al Sharif, Lara Kazim, Rahaf Al Shammari, Nuha Al Maymani, Ethar Hayyan, Sara Al Shaer, Abrar Bukhari, Mays Al Shammari, Dunya Abu Talib and Turtila Al Taweel. The team will be led by Nujood Al Imam in addition to coach Fatimah Hayat and physiotherapists Amna Al Assaf and Raghad Al Ghamdi. President of the Saudi Taekwondo Federation Shaddad Al Amri described the inauguration of the World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championships as, “a historic decision for sport in Saudi Arabia.” “We are fully prepared from all technical and organisational aspects and the Saudi female players are raring to go in what will be the largest Saudi team to compete in a global competition like this,” he said.

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WT’s First All-Women War Gets Underway in Riyadh RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Nov. 25, 2021)

The first ever World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia got underway with athletes from Russia, Korea, Brazil, Czech Republic and Great Britain making it through to the finals. A total of 62 athletes were in action on Day 1 of the competition, which saw some of the world’s best athletes in the female -46kg, -62kg and +73kg classes kicking off the competition. The -46kg category saw Russia’s Anastasiia Artamonova and Korea’s Mi-reu Kang both advance to the final. Artamonova came through a fierce semi-final against Portugal’s Michal Zrihen, winning 2-0 via Golden Point. Meanwhile, Mi-reu Kang overcame Morocco’s Soukaina Sahib 41-25 in a high-scoring contest. In the -62kg, Brazil’s Caroline Santos beat Germany’s Anna-lena Froemming 20-3 to set up a final against the Czech Republic’s Petra Stolbova who overcame Iran’s Kosar Asaseh 7-6 in the other semi-final. In the +73kg, Great Britain’s Bianca Walkden overcame Spain’s Tania Castineira 13-0 in the semi-final. Walkden will face Russia’s Kristina Adebaio in Saturday’s final after Adebaio came through a close contest to beat Germany’s Lorena Brandl 8-6. Following the semi-finals, the Opening Ceremony took place. It included an incredible performance from the World Taekwondo Demonstration Team. 130

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WT's Women Warriors Battle it out on Day 2 RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - (Nov. 26, 2021)

The second day of action at the first ever World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia delivered more Taekwondo action with athletes from Russia, Iran and France making it through to the finals on November 27. Today’s competition saw 65 female athletes competing across three weight categories: -49kg, -57kg and -73kg. In the -49kg, Anna Kazarnovskaia and Galina Medvedeva both advanced through their semi-final contests to set up an all-Russian final. Kazarnovskaia bested Great Britain’s Maddison Moore 20-13 while Medvedeva overcame Mexico’s Daniela Paola Souza with a final score of 21-18. Meanwhile, in the -57kg, Iran’s Zahra Sheidaei overcame Great Britain’s Aaliyah Powell 17-9. She will face Russia’s Margarita Blizniakova who advanced to the final having convincingly beaten Poland’s Patrycja Adamkiewicz 20-5. The -73kg saw both Russia’s Polina Khan and France’s Althea Laurin advance to the final. Laurin beat fellow French athlete Marie Paule Blé 3-0 to earn her spot in the final. Khan, meanwhile, overcame a close contest against Iran’s Melika Mirhosseini with a 2-0 Golden Round victory. 132

Wide Medal Spread at Inaugural Women’s Open

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - (Nov. 27, 2021)

Russia finished on top of the first-ever World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with two golds, while Great Britain, Iran, Korea, Brazil, Turkey and Côte d’Ivoire all secured one gold medal each. The final day of competition saw finals action across all eight weight categories contested, with Russia securing the top spot at the first Taekwondo event hosted in Saudi Arabia. The Russians grabbed two gold medals, four silvers and two bronzes to bring their final medal tally to eigh It caps a vintage year for Team Russia, which earlier this year won the Taekwondo competiton at Tokyo 2020. It was Galina Medvedeva who took home Russia’s first gold of the event after she won by superiority against fellow Russian Anna Kazarnovskaia in the -49kg. Daniela Paola Souza of Mexico and Maddison Moore of Great Britain won the bronze medals on offer. Russia’s second gold came in the -73kg, with Polina Khan also winning by superiority in her matchup against Althea Laurin of France. Iran’s Melika Mirhosseini and France’s

Marie Paule Blé took the bronze medals. In the -46kg, Korea’s Mi-reu Kang bested Russia’s Anastasiia Artamonova 29-28 in a fiercely close contest. Soukaina Sahib of Morocco and Michal Zrihen of Portugal won bronzes. Brazil’s Caroline Santos overcame the Czech Republic’s Petra Stolbova 11-5 to claim gold in the -62kg. Meanwhile, Germany’s Anna-Lena Froemming and Iran’s Kosar Asaseh secured bronzes. Three-time World Champion Bianca Walkden of Great Britain won gold in the +73kg as she overcame Russia’s Kristina Adebaio 10-3 in the final. Tania Castineira of Spain and Lorena Brandl of Germany took bronzes. The final of the -57kg saw Iran’s Zahra Sheidaei come through a close, low-scoring contest to beat Russia’s Margarita Blizniakova 2-0. Aaliyah Po well of Great Britain and Patrycja Adamkiewicz of Poland took the bronze medals. Merve Dincel of Turkey took gold in the -53kg after overcoming Spain’s Alma Maria Perez Parrado with a 3-0 Golden Point Round victory. Russia’s Tatiana Minina and Margarita

Alieva won bronzes. In the -67kg, Olympic Bronze Medallist Ruth Gbagbi from Cote d’Ivoire bested France’s Magda Wiet Henin, 11-5. Germany’s Vanessa Koerndl and Great Britain’s Lauren Williams won the bronze medals. With Russia topping the medal table in Riyadh, second place went to Great Britain and Iran finished third overall. Following her victory, Team GB’s Walkden - who has massive experience at the sport’s elite level, spanning Grand Prixes, Grand Slams, Olympics and Worlds - was full of praise for the event and its organizers. “It’s good that I’ve come back with a gold medal. I’m very proud of that, but to do it here in the first women’s championships in Saudi Arabia, it’s history,” she said. “It’s starting the next generation off, the future off.” She added, “The venue is unreal, they have definitely taken care of us and looked after us. Saudi Arabia has put on the best competition I’ve seen and I’m thankful and grateful to be here.” 133

SEOUL, Korea (Jun. 23, 2021)

Cyber Sparring Takes Taekwondo into Tomorrow Technology enables cross-border, cross-category, cross-weight bouts

Soon, Taekwondo fighters won’t have to be in the same weight category, the same gender category - or even on the same continent - to compete with each other. In a boundary-smashing move that has widespread implications for the future, World Taekwondo announced virtual sparring as the latest outcome of its pioneering partnership with high-tech firm Refract Technologies. Coinciding with Olympic Day, World Taekwondo previewed the future with Virtual Taekwondo – an immersive, non-contact virtual sport which uses highly accurate, real-time motion tracking of a player’s full body movements to turn Taekwondo skill into virtual competition. Players’ bodies are transformed into gaming controllers as they kick and punch the avatar of their real-life, real-time opponent in a one-on-one format.

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Not only does the virtual sport remove physical barriers. It levels multiple playing fields, creating new opportunities for players to compete across genders, weight classes and abilities, as well as geographies. World Taekwondo is planning virtual Taekwondo competitions as early as 2022 - a move that is in synch with IOC initiatives. “World Taekwondo has been at the forefront of innovative technology adoption and have long been committed to aligning with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020 and now 2020+5 vision in growing digital engagement,” said World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “Through this, we can nurture a new generation of virtual athletes united by the Olympic values of respect, friendship and excellence.” “We are excited to support World Taekwondo and have our

system tested at the highest levels by professional athletes,” added Michael Chng, CEO of Refract Technologies, which aims to launch a Kickstarter campaign for the game controller this August. “With advances in 5G, artificial intelligence, and edge-cloud processing, usage of extended reality devices will become a way of life in the near future.” World Taekwondo entered into an agreement with Refract Technologies in 2018 to develop its virtual sport programs and enable the federation to promote physical activity through technological innovation. One of the key projects was Virtual Taekwondo, which utilizes AXIS. Built with gaming in mind, AXIS is a full-body motion tracking system which allows players maximum freedom of movement to use their bodies as game controllers. In 2019, two virtual concepts were showcased to IOC Presi-

dent Thomas Bach during the 2019 World Taekwondo Championships. In 2020, the need for virtual sport was magnified around the world by COVID-19. Partly in response to the challenges posed by the unprecedented pandemic, World Taekwondo organized the Online World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships to allow people to keep active from the safety of their own homes. The federation now organizes these online events every quarter; they are also open to refugees and persons with disabilities. As part of the virtual Taekwondo ecosystem, World Taekwondo also launched a poomsae education textbook app to teach official poomsae in a convenient, accessible, and hightech format.

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Goyang, WT Clasp Hands GOYANG, Korea (Sept. 14, 2021)

Goyang , Korea, to Host 2022's World Poomsae Championships With the world still struggling against the COVID-19 pandemic, major sports events have been suspended. But against the odds, the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships are on scheduled to go ahead in Korea’s Goyang City in April 2022. The Goyang 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, from April 21-24, is expected to welcome around 2,000 athletes and officials from some 70 countries. “The online poomsae championships we have held during the pandemic have been a great success and demonstrated that Taekwondo can be practised anywhere, any time,” said World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “However, nothing quite compares to having all the athletes together in person and being able to watch them compete against other in real time.” The World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships started in 2006; at the 2018 championships held in Taipei, some 1,200 athletes from 59 countries participated. The 2020 championships, 136

which had been scheduled to take place in Denmark, were cancelled due to the pandemic, and they were instead held later on a virtual platform in order to comply with social distancing regulations. Fans of the format are thus excitedly waiting for this year’s championships, which will be the first with a big crowd in four years. It will also be the first one to be held in Korea since the 2007 event in Incheon. World Taekwondo also plans to relocate its headquarters to the city, which is a north-western suburb of Seoul. “This is the first major international sports event held in Goyang in 13 years, since the 2009 World Weightlifting Championships,” Goyang Mayor Jae-joon Lee said. "We will execute it with precision to enhance the status of Taekwondo and the brand value of Goyang.” The city's world-class exhibition space, KINTEX, wil be the location.

A signing ceremony of the host city contract for the 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships was held at Goyang City Hall on Sept. 14. The ceremony was attended by World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue, Mayor of Goyang Jae-joon Lee and President of the Korea Taekwondo Association Jin-bang Yang. The city was selected by the World Taekwondo Council in May 2020. “Next year’s poomsae competition will be an opportunity to leap forward internationally as a city of Taekwondo,” said Mayor Lee. “I am confident that next year’s poomsae competition will be the most successful poomsae competition ever,’ Choue vowed. Yang promised maximum efforts for the success of the championships. The first World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships was held in 2006 and attracted 590 athletes from 59 athletes. The discipline has grown significantly in popularity over the last 15 years as it provides a non-combat alternative to kyorugi, ensuring Taekwondo is truly a sport for all. Last year’s world championships were held online for the first time as COVID-19 prevented the event from being held physically. More than 1,500 athletes from nearly 100 countries took part in the event.

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Online Poomsae Challenge I :

Virtual Poomsae Storms Cyperspace

The first Online World Taekwondo Poomsae Open Challenge concluded today with a spectacular final, which saw athletes from six different countries claim the golds on offer. A total of 99 teams with 159 athletes from 26 countries competed in the final across nine different categories. Korean athletes won the two gold medals in the National Team Individual Male and Individual Freestyle Male Competitions while Iran took a clean sweep of the Individual Female and Individual Freestyle Female competitions. In the Open competition, gold medals were shared between Thailand, Korea, USA, Iran, Spain and Italy demonstrating the universality and accessibility of the sport. The final was streamed on pre-recorded video on the World

Taekwondo YouTube channel. Those who progressed from the semi-finals held on April 18-21 were joined in the final by 12 teams who won medals at the Online 2020 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships last year. The Open Challenge series will be held throughout the year in June, September and December, and aims to provide Taekwondoin with access to the sport, wherever they are. The Open Challenge II in June will comprise Family (Pairs and Team), Cadet, Refugee categories. The Open Challenge III in September will comprise Family (Pairs and Team), Senior, Para Taekwondo categories. The Open Challenge Grand Final in December will see invitations for the top eight participants in each of the previous editions.

SEOUL, Korea (Apr. 28, 2021)

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World Taekwondo Poomsae Open Challenge Series:

A Spectacular Season Finale SEOUL, Korea (Dec. 27, 2021)

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The spectacular Online 2021 World Taekwondo Poomsae Challenge Final brought to a close the first ever virtual poomsae series to run throughout 2021m and delivered Taekwondo competition to thousands of people around the world. The final, on December 1-23, drew the top eight finishing athletes from each category of the previous three Open Challenges from 2021. A total of 459 athletes from 43 countries competed across 54 categories in the event, split into two divisions: National Team category and Open category. The full results from the final can be found on the WT website. World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said: “The 2021 World Taekwondo Poomsae Challenge has been a great success and allowed Taekwondoin of all ages and abilities to practice the sport competitively, wherever they are. This month’s grand final brought together the best performers from throughout the series. Across both the National and Open divisions, they showed just how much Taekwondo talent there is globally. However, the Poomsae Open Challenge is not just about the best; it is about everyone coming together practicing Taekwondo and having fun.” The Open Challenge series began in March with an official category for Junior National Team athletes (15-17 years old) and an Open Category for Juniors, to an individual category and families to participate in pairs and teams. In June, the Open Challenge II was open to families in pairs and teams as well as to cadets and refugees. The Open Challenge III again included categories for families in pairs and teams. A total of 1,746 athletes from 67 nations competed during the Open Challenge series I, II, III and the Final. The series was launched to build on the great success of the first-ever Online World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships November 2020.

The Open division was split across 32 categories: · Individual (Recognized Poomsae) · Children (Under 8, Under 10, Under 12), Cadet (12-14)& Junior (15-17) · Senior (Under 30, Under 40, Under 50, Under 60, Under 65, Under 70 and Over 70) · Pair & Team (Recognized Poomsae) · Family Pair (6 divisions): Sibling/Couple/Father + Daughter/Father +Son/Mother + Daughter/Mother + Son · Family Team A (3 Family members, 2 Generations) · Family Team B (3 Family members, 3 Generations)

The National Team division was split across 22 categories in the Final: · Individual (Recognized Poomsae / Freestyle Poomsae) · Recognized Poomsae–Cadet (12-14) & Junior (15-17) · Recognized Poomsae –Senior (Under 30, Under 40, Under 50, Under 60, Under 65, and Over 65) · Freestyle Poomsae –Cadet (12-14) & Junior(15-17) · Freestyle Poomsae–Senior (Over 17)

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Part 2

AROUND WT

Vatican Joins WT as 211th Member SEOUL, Korea (Nov. 23, 2021)

thletica Vaticana – Vatican Taekwondo was today recognized as the 211th Member National Association of World Taekwondo. The city state was approved as the latest member of the world Taekwondo family via an electronic vote of the World Taekwondo General Assembly. That makes World Taekwondo one of only two international federations with a Vatican sport entity among its MNAs. Taekwondo has been taught in the Vatican after Federazione Italiana Taekwondo (FITA) partnered with the Saint Pius X Institute to organize a course for the students of the seminary at the end of 2020. The course saw 20 boys aged between 13-17 practice Taekwondo three

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times a week as part of their curriculum. World Taekwondo has developed a close relationship with the Vatican in recent years through a shared commitment to promoting peace. The World Taekwondo Demonstration Team performed in Vatican City in 2016 during the 1st Global Conference on Faith & Sport. In 2017, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue and President of FITA Angelo Cito were received by Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City, where Choue presented His Holiness with an honorary 10th dan black belt. The following year, World Taekwondo performed an historic demonstration in St Peter’s Square in front of

Pope Francis and thousands of people gathered from all over the world for the Pope’s General Audience. “Taekwondo is a universal language, it does not matter what your religion or beliefs are; where you are from, or who you are; we are all united through Taekwondo,” said Choue. “With the Vatican, World Taekwondo shares many common values and we believe strongly in the power of sport to promote respect, friendship and peace. I am sure the creation of this new MNA will help further strengthen Taekwondo and its values around the world.” “By introducing Athletica Vaticana into the greater family of World Taekwondo, I hope we will be able to help others to connect the high ethical values of Taekwondo to a robust spiritual life, and strengthen the bridge

between eastern and western cultural traditions,” said Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture Msgr. Melchor Sanchez de Toca. “Together we can contribute to the common good of society, by spreading moral and physical strength, self-discipline, overcoming one’s limits, respect for others and joy of life, which are characteristics of Taekwondo.” Giampaolo Mattei, President of Athletica Vaticana – Vatican Taekwondo added: “Such recognition aims at encouraging the practice of Taekwondo as a sport among children and adults with a strong focus on inclusion of people with impairments and solidarity.”

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WT Council Proposes Changes to Elevate Governance to Highest Level

Council Meets Prior to Virtual General Assembly SEOUL, Korea (Oct. 11, 2021)

SEOUL, Korea (April 20, 2021)

In a virtual Extraordinary Council Meeting on April 20, the World Taekwondo Council approved proposals to revise its statutes, as part of its commitment to upholding the very highest standards of good governance. The proposed revisions will be put to an electronic vote of the WT General Assembly before being applied. The revised statutes were developed based on a review of ASOIF-survey indicators and ASOIF-recommended best practices. WT’s Juridical and Integrity Committees were closely involved in all proposed revisons. The result is key changes to term limits, age limits, gender balance targets, Council structure, and intellectual property guidance. “The proposed changes to the statutes, which we have approved today, are critical in supporting our efforts to ensure that World Taekwondo becomes one of the most sustainable and innovative International Federations (IFs),” said WT President Chungwon Choue. “Today, we gave a clear signal that we want to proactively change and be a model IF for others to follow, instead of following others.” The Council approved the following amendments: Term Limits Elected officials will only be able to serve a maximum of three consecutive terms in any role before a break of at least four years. Elected officials can also only accumulatively serve a maximum of three terms in any one role. Age Limits For new candidates to apply for elected positions, they must be less than 70 years old on the day of the election. Current sitting members must be less than 80 years old on the day of the election. Gender Balance As part of World Taekwondo’s commitment to supporting active participation of women at all levels of Taekwondo, the federation will seek to achieve gender equal representation within its council, commissions and committees by 2029.

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Council Structure The total number of Council members will remain the same, at 37. However, the number of appointed members will be reduced and the number of elected officials will be increased by four. With this step, World Taekwondo strengthens its democracy and improves its gender balance. At least one elected member per continent will be female. And the female with the highest number of votes will be elevated to the position of WT vice president. Continental Unions To mirror World Taekwondo, a minimum of two thirds of the Continental Union Council members should be elected by their General Assembly. Model statutes will be provided by World Taekwondo with the unions obliged to adopt the statutes at the latest by July 9, to apply new rules to the upcoming October election. Intellectual Property World Taekwondo will issue new guidance on the use of its name and logo to its members. The revised rules will be submitted for approval by the General Assembly via an electronic vote. Pending their approval, they will be applied at the president and council elections to be held on October 11, 2021. An ad-hoc Election Committee has been formed and will be chaired by Vice President Aicha Garad Ali. Jean-Marie Ayer, chair of the Member Relations and Development Committee, and Jung-heon Kim, chair of the Poomsae Committee, will also serve on the Election Committee. The election guidelines will be distributed by no later than May 11 and the deadline for receiving candidatures will be July 11. The elections will go ahead virtually. A minute’s silence paid respects to departed Council Members Ahmed Fouly and Milan Kwee.

The World Taekwondo Council met virtually today ahead of the General Assembly on Oct. 12, which will see the elections of the president, council members and auditor. World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue opened the meeting by congratulating those elected and re-elected to their respective continental union councils. They are: Issaka Ide (Niger) – African Taekwondo Union President Kyu-seok Lee (Republic of Korea) – Asian Taekwondo Union President Sakis Pragalos (Greece) – European Taekwondo Union President John Kotsifas (Australia) – Oceania Taekwondo President Juan Manuel Lopez (Mexico) – Pan American Taekwondo Union President The elected presidents of the Continental Unions are ex-officio vice presidents of World Taekwondo. President Choue also thanked the Continental Unions for working closely with World Taekwondo to support the collective aim of becoming one of the best and most respected international sports federations. Choue summed up the recent Olympic and Paralympic events, held amid the trying circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The high was obviously the very successful completion of the Taekwondo competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. We

also had a fantastic debut at the Paralympic Games,” he said. “We managed to showcase a lot of good things about Taekwondo – fair competitions, high standards of refereeing, respect from everyone, and a new generation of champions who will be the names to watch out for in years to come.” While the competitions were a great success, World Taekwondo is constantly striving to improve and has created an ad-hoc committee to look at how to further refine competition rules to make Taekwondo more exciting and dynamic. The Council also received an update from Honorary Vice President and Chair of the Interim Management Committee of the Pan American Taekwondo Union (PATU) Ivan Dibos on the steps taken to bring the organisation into compliance with good governance and best practice. The agenda for the General Assembly was approved and a report on the World Taekwondo Election Committee for the 2021 World Taekwondo elections was also delivered. The elections will see a record number of female candidates standing, reflecting the federation’s ongoing commitment to increasing women’s representation in the sport. World Taekwondo Secretary General Hoss Rafaty delivered the operations report and there was also approval of the financial report. 147

Chungwon Choue Re-Elected World Taekwondo President

Elected Council Members

SEOUL, Korea (Oct. 11, 2021) AFRICA

Driss EL HILALI (Morocco)

Margaret Elizabeth BINGA

Mohamed SHAABAN

(Nigeria)

(Egypt)

Jin-bang YANG

Kook-hyun JUNG

Nadin DAWANI

(Korea)

(Jordan)

ASIA

Ahmed Hamdan ALZEYOUDI (UAE)

EUROPE

Chungwon Choue was today re-elected as World Taekwondo President for the term 2021-2025 by electronic vote during the virtual World Taekwondo General Assembly 2021. Choue was the sole presidential candidate and received 129 of the 131 votes. He has served as WT president since 2004 and has overseen a transformational period in the sport’s history with a focus on making Taekwondo fairer, more transparent and more inclusive. “It is a great honour to have been re-elected as president of World Taekwondo and to lead our great sport forward,” Choue said after the vote. “Over the past year and a half, we used the time we had to reset our operations. Now, it is time to restart and elevate World Taekwondo to the top. Now more than ever, we need to stand united and have harmony. Therefore, I sincerely wish for the CUs to work closely with 148

World Taekwondo as we aim to become one of the best and most respected international sports federations by our 50th founding anniversary in 2023.” Choue’s vision for World Taekwondo over the next four years also includes launching new and exciting properties, increasing women’s representation in the federation, and advancing the significant progress made in virtual Taekwondo. A total of 17 World Taekwondo Council members were also elected during the General Assembly from a pool of 33 candidates. Among the 17 elected Council members are one female member per Continental Union to ensure greater gender equality. Maria Rosario Borello from Guatemala, who received the highest vote of the female candidates, was elevated to WT vice president. During the elections Ali Sagirkaya was voted in as auditor.

Anatoly TEREKHOV

Angelo CITO

Anna VASSALLO

Metin SAHIN

(Russia)

(Italy)

(Malta)

(Turkey)

Auditor: Ali SAGIRKAYA (Turkey)

OCEANIA

Hassan ISKANDAR (Australia)

PAN AMERICA

Jamie Lee CARPENTER (New Zealand)

Inseon KIM (USA)

Maria Rosario BORELLO (Guatemala)

Mario MANDEL (Chile)

Richard Jay WARWICK (USA)

“Elevated to Vice President”

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New Officials Appointed at First-Ever Council Orientation SEOUL, Korea (Nov. 4, 2021)

As Council Members, President Choue appointed:

Samira Asghari

Her Highness Sheikha Jameela

Jean-Marie Ayer

“We are delighted to announce our newly appointed vice presidents and council members who will bring vast experience and contribute significantly to World Taekwondo,” Choue said. “We have a very strong and diverse membership in the Council and I am looking forward to working closely with them in the weeks and years ahead. Over the past 18 months, we at World Taekwondo have been preparing ourselves for this moment. In a sense, it will be a new world but we will emerge better and stronger, together.” Choue also announced that he has created an ad-hoc com-

Maher Magableh

Anna Panka

Pimol Srivikorn

mittee for the 50th anniversary of World Taekwondo which will be celebrated in 2023. For the orientation of Council members, the World Taekwondo secretariat covered the federation’s vision, mission, values and strategic priorities, history and structure; its support for stakeholders, education and social responsibilities; the status of World Taekwondo; external relations and partnerships; World Taekwondo events; communications; Para Taekwondo; and GMS. There were also presentations on the mandates of Council members.

Vice President Yangwoo Park

World Taekwondo today hosted its first-ever orientation meeting for the recently elected members of the World Taekwondo Council and also appointed its remaining Council members and vice presidents. World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue, as per the World Taekwondo Statutes, has the authority to appoint two vice presidents and six Council members. During the orientation meeting, President Choue appointed IOC Member Aicha Garad Ali and Korea’s former Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Yang-woo Park as vice presidents. The one remaining appointed Council member will be announced in due course. Pimol Srivikorn will continue as treasurer. There are currently 10 female members representing 31% of the Council. World Taekwondo is committed to achieving gender parity on the body by 2030, at the latest. Vice President Aicha Garad Ali 150

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World Taekwondo Hosts Continental Union and Committee Meeting to Facilitate Greater Cooperation SEOUL, Korea (Jan. 4, 2022) World Taekwondo began the new year with a meeting of Continental Union heads and WT Committee chairs to emphasise the importance of everyone working together, and to reveal a headquarters restructuring. “The reason we are meeting today is because 2022 is going to be a very important year for us: After a difficult two years in 2020 and 2021, this is the year when World Taekwondo will restart our operations,” WT President Chungwon Choue said. “We have used these two years to reset and rethink: how can we become stronger during and after the pandemic? That is why I want all of us to work together - to have better harmony and cooperation, and to be of service to our MNAs.” In order to streamline operational efficiency, Choue also announced the restructuring of the federation’s headquarters into five key departments: Planning and Finance (including the President’s Office); Sport and Event Management; Member Relations and Development; Education; and Administration and Communications. Jeongkang Seo was appointed Director General. He will also serve as WT’s Acting Secretary General until a new secretary general is appointed. Previous Secretary General Hoss Rafaty’s term has expired. Continental Union presidents and Committee chairs provided updates. One of the major items was the World Taekwondo-promoted championships which will take place this year, including the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, World Taekwondo Junior and Cadet Championships and many other recognised events.

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Due to the ongoing pandemic and for the health and wellbeing of all attendees, the World Taekwondo Championships are expected to take place in the final quarter of 2022. Wuxi will not be hosting this year’s World Championships, so a new host city will be announced in the coming weeks. Ten MNAs have expressed their interest in hosting the rescheduled Worlds, which are expected to take place in November of this year. Once the bid process is completed and the host is selected by the Council, the exact dates and location will be announced. It was acknowledged that given the ongoing uncertainties around the pandemic, great flexibility will be required this year. Protecting the health and wellbeing of the World Taekwondo family will remain the priority. Choue reiterated the federation’s commitment to implementing the highest standards of good governance and thanked everyone for their cooperation and support in order to set best practice examples for MNAs to follow. Work will continue this year to prepare for the federation’s Golden Jubilee next year, and the activities which will celebrate World Taekwondo’s 50th founding anniversary. Finally, it was agreed that the first Council Workshop will take place in Bangkok, should COVID-19 and travel restrictions allow. Otherwise, the Council will meet virtually for its first meeting of 2022, on January 28.

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2022 World Taekwondo Championships Awarded to Cancun SEOUL, Korea (Jan. 28, 2022)

The World Taekwondo Council awarded the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships to Cancun and the 2023 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships to Sarajevo

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The decision was taken in a vote during today’s online extraordinary Council meeting which focused on restarting World Taekwondo Competitions. The Council considered bids from Baku (Azerbaijan), Beirut (Lebanon), and Cancun (Mexico) for the World Championships with representatives from each of the three cities delivering presentations during the meeting. Following the presentation an electronic vote was held and Cancun was awarded the Championships with 52% of the vote. For the 2023 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships, Queretaro (Mexico) and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) presented their candidacies to the Council. Sarajevo was awarded the event with 92% of the vote.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said: “We are delighted to announce Cancun and Sarajevo as the hosts of the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships and 2023 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships respectively. Both cities presented very strong bids and we have no doubt they will deliver wonderful competitions. Mexico has a proud history in hosting excellent World Taekwondo events including World Championships and Grand Prixes and we are sure Cancun will build on this heritage. For Bosnia and Herzegovina, it will be the first time they have hosted a World Taekwondo event and we believe this will act as a catalyst for the further growth of the sport in the country. Today’s meeting showed how much interest there is in hosting World Taekwondo events and we are committed to restarting our competitions this year in a safe and successful manner.” The World Championships had been scheduled to take place in Wuxi, China in April 2022 following the postponement of last year’s Championships due to COVID-19. However, Wuxi withdrew from hosting the event this year due to the ongoing pandemic and to protect the health and wellbeing of all athletes, officials and organizers. On April 21-24, World Taekwondo will also host the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Goyang, Korea. During the pandemic over the last two years, World Taekwondo has hosted the online Poomsae challenge series which has allowed grassroots athletes all over the world to engage in the sport. During the Council meeting, President Choue announced the World Taekwondo Children’s Championships will be launched to engage young people in the sport. The Council also passed amendments to the competition rules for more dynamic and exciting competitions. It was also explained that Kukkiwon has nominated Mr. Chunjae Park as their representative in the World Taekwondo Council as per the Statutes and he will be invited to the next meeting. The next Extraordinary Council meeting will take place in Goyang in a hybrid format during the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships.

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Meet WT’s Latest Commission, Committee Chairs SEOUL, Korea (Dec. 10, 2021)

List of Chairs

World Taekwondo announced the chairs of the World Taekwondo Committees and Commissions for the period 2021-2023 with a series of re-appointments and new appointments, including the first ever female chair of the Referee Committee.Amely Moras from the USA is among the newly appointed chairs and is not only the first female to lead the Referee Committee but at 35. is the youngest of the Committee and Commission chairs. Moras previously served as vice-chair of the committee and has extensive refereeing experience including at the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

There is 34 percent female representation - well short of World Taekwondo’s drive to achieving gender parity in the committees within this decade. Still, one commission and four influential committees are chaired by women – Member Relations and Development Commission, Referee Committee, Juridical Committee, Para Taekwondo Classification Committee, and Taekwondo for All Committee. The chairs will play an important role in ensuring that the committees and commissions continue to identify ways to improve World Taekwondo and deliver the very best sport for its athletes and all stakeholders.

(in alphabetical order of the Commissions first then Committees):

Chair of the Member Relations and Development Commission Chair of the Development Committee

Chair of the Technical Commission

Chair of the Education Committee

Chair of the Juridical Committee

Chair of the Medical & Anti-Doping Committee

Chair of the Para Taekwondo Committee

Maria Rosario BORELLO CASTILLO

Songchul KIM

Hassane SADOK

Lorenza MEL

Dae Hyoun JEONG

Chakir CHELBAT

Guatemala newly appointed

Canada newly appointed

France newly appointed

Italy re-appointed

Korea re-appointed

Sweden re-appointed

BORELLO CASTILLO serves as a World Taekwondo Vice President

KIM was former Chair of the World Taekwondo Referee Committee

SADOK is President of the French Taekwondo Federation and President at the University of Littoral, France

Chair of the Finance Committee

Chair of the Games Committee

Chair of the Integrity & Ethics Committee

Chair of the Para Taekwondo Classification Committee

Chair of the Poomsae Committee

Chair of the Referee Committee

Pimol SRIVIKORN

Mohamed SHAABAN

Jean-Marie AYER

Hadwah MOAWAD

Jungheon KIM

Amely MORAS

Thailand re-appointed

Egypt re-appointed

Switzerland newly appointed

Saudi Arabia newly appointed

Korea re-appointed

USA newly appointed

SRIVIKORN is World Taekwondo Treasurer

SHAABAN serves on the World Taekwondo Council

AYER is a World Taekwondo Council member and former secretary general

MORAS is the first female referee chair in World Taekwondo’s history

Chair of the Taekwondo For All Committee Hadwah MOAWAD

Chair of the Athletes Committee – To be elected New members will be elected during the World Taekwondo Championships, after which the co-chairs will be elected amongst the members

Chair of the Sustainability Committee – To be appointed Chair of the Coaches Committee – To be elected

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Prominent VIPs Address WT Peace Festival SEOUL, Korea (Nov. 22, 2021)

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The World Taekwondo Peace Festival was held in Seoul, Korea, on Nov. 22 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Olympic Taekwondo and the 40th anniversary of the UN International Day of Peace. The event, which took place at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in Seoul, was jointly promoted by World Taekwondo (WT), by the NGO GCS International, and by the UN Association of the Republic of Korea. The festival, which lasted about two hours, featured a 20-minute Taekwondo performance by the WT Demonstration Team, an opening ceremony, and a one-hour peace concert. Shortly after the performance, there was an opening ceremony, in which WT President Chungwon Choue delivered a speech, followed by congratulatory remarks by Vice Sport Minister Jung-bae Kim, former UN Secretary General Kimoon Ban, and UN Association-Korea President Ho-jin Lee. IOC President Thomas Bach also delivered a congratulatory video message. Choue said in his opening remarks, “Since 2000, Taekwondo has featured in six consecutive Olympic Games. Throughout the past 21 years, Taekwondo has not only brought excitement to fans around the world; Taekwondo has also created a pathway for refugees, displaced persons, and the underprivileged to fulfil their sporting dreams. In Tokyo, we had four Taekwondo refugee athletes competing for the very first time in the Olympic and Paralympic Games.” Choue, who has also serves as president of GCS International since 2006, did not end his remarks there. “I sometimes wish that there is no such things as a UN International Day of Peace, because we should all live in a peaceful world every day,” he went on. “Unfortunately, there is no such utopian world....we, as global leaders, have a role to play in nurturing generations to live in harmony and respect. In a world of peace.” Ban fondly recalled Choue’s father, Dr. Young Seek Choue, in his speech. “It was Dr. Choue who initiated the very idea of International Day of Peace.” In his congratulatory video message, IOC President Bach said: “Today’s festival is more than celebrating the long history of Taekwondo as an Olympic sport. Today you are putting the spotlight on the unique power of sport to unite the entire world in peace.

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“Peace - this was also central to the thinking of the founder of the IOC, Pierre de Coubertin. When he revived the Olympic Games 127 years ago, he saw them as a way to promote peace among nations and peoples,” Bach said. “This is why I would like to thank World Taekwondo under the great leadership of President Choue for organizing this festival that celebrates sport, peace and solidarity,” Bach concluded. The peace concert featured eight songs. Mezzo-soprano Nam-ok Paik performed “Song of Peace.” Then Korean Soul, a famous Korean black gospel group, performed “Oh Happy Day,” followed by “Yo Soy Maria” by the Jazz Quartet. Band Leenalchi, a seven-member group, performed “Tiger is Coming” and “Please Don’t Go.” The Korean Adopted Children Choir performed “Magnolia Blossom,” which was written by GCS founder Young Seek Choue and composed by Dong-jin Kim, and John Lennon’s peace anthem, “Imagine.”

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Taekwondo Joins 2021 DMZ Peace Festival The 2021 DMZ Peace Festival was held successfully in Paju, Korea, on June 20, 2021. The 2021 DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) Peace Festival, the third of its kind, was jointly promoted by GCS International, a Seoul-based UN-affiliated NGO, and the Kukmin Ilbo daily. The event, which was held at the Theater Hall of the Munsan Administrative Welfare Center in Paju, north of Seoul and near the DMZ, was supported by World Taekwondo; the Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; GCS Korea Chapter, and the Korea Fair Play Committee. Because of the COVID-19 situation, a maximum of 100 people were allowed to participate in the 2021 fest. The 2021 DMZ Peace Festival, the third of its kind, was jointly promoted by GCS International, a Seoul-based UN-affiliated NGO, and the Kukmin Ilbo, a daily newspaper. The event, which was held at the Theater Hall of the Munsan Administrative Welfare Center in Paju, north of Seoul and near the DMZ, was supported by World Taekwondo; the Korea Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; GCS Korea Chapter, and the Korea Fair Play Committee. Because of the COVID-19 situation, a maximum of 100 people were allowed to participate in the annual event, in which the WT

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Demonstration Team and the GCS Global Peace Corps Taekwondo Heroes Team conducted performances. The event, which was broadcast live via YouTube, drew dignitaries such as GCS International and World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue; Kukmin Ilbo President Jae-woon Byun; Dong-sup Lee, president of the Kukkiwon; Kyung-duk Kim, president of the Gyeong Gi-Do Taekwondo Association; Huh Jong, president of the GCS Korea Chapter; Myung-ho Seung, a board member of GCS International and chairman of the Hankook Ilbo daily; and Kwang-kyun Lee, a board member of GCS International. There was an award ceremony for 54 winners of the 2022 DMZ art contest by Cooperation Act, a US NGO. The ceremony was followed by Taekwondo performances by the GCS Global Peace Corps Taekwondo Heroes Team and the WT Demonstration Team, drawing big applause from the participants. US House of Representatives Members Michelle Park Steel and Young Kim sent their respective congratulatory video messages for the 2021 DMZ Peace Festival. “I hope the 2022 DMZ Peace Festival will be COVID-19 free and draw more than 10,000 people, as we saw at the inaugural 2019 DMZ event at the Imjingak Peace Nuri Park in Paju,” said Choue during his opening remarks. “I also hope that the Taekwondo Demonstration Team of the North Korea-led International Taekwondo Federation will perform at the 2022 DMZ World Festival.”

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Ide Honored with Order of Merit of Africa

Srivikorn Honored by Korean Government

ABUJA, Nigeria (Sept. 30, 2021)

BANGKOK, Thailand (Feb. 4, 2021)

World Taekwondo Vice President Issaka Ide received an “Order of Merit of Africa” during the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). The celebration was held in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sept. 29-30, 2021. The order was presented in the presence of the ministers of sport of Algeria, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria. Ide, who is also president of the Nigerian NOC, was invited to the ceremony in his capacity as acting president of the African Taekwondo Union. The Order of Merit was awarded to him in appreciation of his commitment to promoting African Taekwondo.

World Taekwondo Council Member and President of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand Pimol Srivikorn has been awarded the Order of Sports Merit Award from the Korean government. The Order of Sports Merit is awarded to those who have rendered outstanding meritorious services in the interest of improving citizens’ physiques and national status though sports. Only a handful of foreigners have received the order. Srivikorn is the first Thai to have been awarded this prestigious honour. In his role on the World Taekwondo Council and long-standing position as president of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand, Srivikorn has made a major contribution to the development of Taekwondo not just in Thailand but around the world. Srivikorn joins notable individuals who have been presented with the award, including IOC President Thomas Bach and IOC Member Gunilla Lindberg. Srivikorn and his family were invited by Wook-heon Lee, Korean ambassador to Thailand, to receive the award.

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Italian Federation Bags Taekwondo Day Award

Russian Taekwondo Awarded after String of Global Successes

SEOUL, Korea (Sep. 10, 2021)

SEOUL, Korea (Jan. 12, 2022)

WT President Chungwon Choue delivered the Taekwondo Day Award to the Italian Taekwondo Federation via video conference on Sept. 10.

Taekwondo Day is celebrated every year in commemoration of the IOC’s decision on that date in 1994 to include Taekwondo on the Olympic program.

Choue had earlier recommended to the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) that the Italian Taekwondo Federation receive the award to recognize its multiple achievements and contributions to Taekwondo.

Team Italy won a gold in Tokyo 2020, following a gold in London 2012, and its athletes are consistent medalists at European, World and Grand Prix Championships.

“Congratulations! This award is recognition of the truly excellent work the Italian Federation has done in raising champion athletes, hosting world-class competitions and promoting Taekwondo. including the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, on the world stage,” Choue said. “Thanks go to all at the federation - especially its leader, Angelo Cito.” Cito, the president of the Italian Taekwondo Federation and also a WT Council member, said he was honored to receive the award and thanked both WT and the MCST. The award is gifted by the MCST as part of its efforts to promote Taekwondo Day, which falls on Sept. 4. Related celebrations could not be held this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Italy has also proven to be a reliable host of regional and world-class events, including the 2005 European Cadet Championships, the 2008 European Championships and the 2011 European Poomsae Championships. Since 2018, Rome has been established as the only permanent host of one leg of the annual Grand Prix Series. Moreover, the Italian Taekwondo Federation has delivered a range of off-the-mats achievements that have promoted the sport’s image worldwide. In 2018, the WT Demonstration Team performed at the Vatican in front of the Pope. WT medal winners of the Roma Grand Prix have also been granted the extraordinary privilege of being photographed in the city’s famous Colosseum.

On behalf of the Korean Ministry of Sport and Tourism, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue today presented a certificate of commendation to Russian Taekwondo Union President and World Taekwondo Council Member Anatoly Terekhov in recognition of his excellent service and contribution to Taekwondo’s development. Under Terekhov’s leadership, the country’s athletes have enjoyed remarkable success internationally.

Russia has also hosted the 2015 World Taekwondo Championships in Chelyabinsk, and the 2018 World Taekwondo Grand Prix and 2019 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Finals and Gala Awards in Moscow. Choue, who nominated the Russian Taekwondo Union for the commendation, and presented the certificate to Terekhov virtually, was full of praise for Russian Taekwondo’s trajectory.

Russian players led the international medal table at Tokyo 2020 with two golds, one silver and one bronze, while three of their four Paralympic athletes won bronzes. Russians also won one gold, two silvers and one bronze at the 2019 World Taekwondo Championships in Manchester.

“President Terekhov has made a huge contribution to the development of Taekwondo in Russia and led them to be one of the sport’s most successful countries,” Choue said. “Their outstanding performance at Tokyo 2020 in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games reflects how far they have come under his leadership.”

These successes show a massive advance over the single silver medal won at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Choue also paid tribute to Russia’s excellence as a host of prestigious Taekwondo events.

“I am honoured to have received this commendation and would like to sincerely thank the Korean Ministry of Sport and Tourism and President Choue for his nomination,” Terekhov said. “My team and I at the Russian Taekwondo Union have worked very hard over the last seven years to raise the standards of Taekwondo in Russia and this commendation is a tribute to our collective success.” During the call, Terekhov expressed his hope of meeting Choue in person soon. Choue proposed the two meet at SportAccord this year.

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Fouly Posthumously Awarded Medal by Korean Government

World Taekwondo Mourns Singapore's Milan Kwee

SEOUL, Korea (Apr. 30, 2021)

Seoul, Korea (Mar. 10, 2021)

The late Ahmed Fouly, a former vice president of World Taekwondo, was today posthumously awarded the Cheongryong Medal, the highest Order of Sport Merit from the Korean government, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the propagation and development of Taekwondo.

Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee in the presence of World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue. “In his capacity as President of Taekwondo Africa, General Fouly oversaw the meteoric rise of Taekwondo in his region,” Choue said. “Five medals from Africa under his leadership at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games truly demonstrated the universality of Taekwondo. Taekwondo is now one of the most popular sports in Africa, and continues to produce champions on and off the mat. Fouly sadly passed away from natural causes on Sept. 27. 2020.

He was recommended by World Taekwondo for the award, given his exceptional work in promoting and developing Taekwondo in Africa.

He served as vice president of World Taekwondo and president of the African Taekwondo Union from 2004 until his passing.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Fouly’s family could not travel to Korea to receive the award on his behalf, so the medal was delivered to the Ambassador of Egypt to Korea, Hazem Mostafa Ibrahim Fahmy.

He was also president of the Egyptian Taekwondo Federation from 2000 to 2009 and from 2012 to 2014. In 2009. he became vice president of the Egyptian Olympic Committee and held that position for four years.

World Taekwondo paid its respects to Milan Kwee at a memorial altar set up at the federation’s headquarters in Seoul. Kwee, who passed away on March 9, is a former president of the Singapore Taekwondo Federation and a former Council member of World Taekwondo. One of the most well-liked of WT’s VIPs, Kwee was noted for being consistently upbeat and positive. The memorial altar stood for three days.

The award was presented by the Korean Minister of Culture,

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WT Gender Equity and Women Leadership Forum Charts Path For Female Participation SEOUL, Korea (Mar. 10, 2021) World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue expressed his hope that the Gender Equity and Women Leadership Forum, will create a meaningful legacy for women in Taekwondo. The second edition of the virtual forum took place on March 6-7, and was co-hosted by UK Sport. “Through the World Taekwondo Gender Equity and Women Leadership Forum, we have created a platform to showcase the achievements of women in and through sport,” Choue 170

said at the forum. “The forum is not just for World Taekwondo, but an initiative to work with other organizations to advance the values of gender equity and equality together. I hope the World Taekwondo Gender Equity and Women Leadership Forum will create a pathway and legacy for women for many years to come.” “There is much to celebrate and we have made positive progress in the journey but it is an ongoing journey and there is

no time to stop,” said UK Sport Chair Dame Katherine Grainger, who shared her journey from Olympian to sports leadership. “We can use this weekend to feel energized and re-inspired to continue on the quest for genuine equity.” “We should all feel a sense of responsibility,” she added. “We all have a role to play whatever position we may be in and that individual and collective responsibility will make a positive change.” Distinguished speakers included IOC Executive Board Member and Vice Chair of the IOC Women in Sport Commission, HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein who spoke of the need to ensure that gender equity was addressed at every level of sport. IOC Member and President of World Rowing Jean-Christophe Rolland shared his federation’s active role in advancing gender equality through institutional changes. Jordanian National Commission for Women’s Affairs Sec-

retary General Dr. Salma Nims delivered a powerful and thought-provoking presentation on gender equality during the ongoing pandemic. She was joined by Dr. Lisa Hindson, Advisor for Games Planning, Venue Operations, Readiness and Knowledge at the IOC, who spoke of sport event management during COVID-19. A session was dedicated to psychology in sport. It saw contributions from IOC Senior Sports Intelligence Manager Niccolo Campriani, Sarah Broadhead, Team GB Sports Psychologist, and Dana Touran, member of the World Taekwondo Development Committee. The final session involved a Q&A with inspiring young Taekwondo female ambassadors including Para-Taekwondo athlete Maisie Catt who has aspirations to represent Team GB in the future.

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Zimbabwe’s Teenage Taekwondo Trainer Natsiraishe Maritsa Wins IOC Women and Sport Award for Africa BEIJING, China (Feb. 3, 2022)

Natsiraishe Maritsa, an 18-year-old Taekwondo trainer from Zimbabwe, has today been recognised for her selfless efforts to use Taekwondo to empower young girls in her community, as she was awarded the Winner for Africa at the IOC Women and Sport Awards. Maritsa drew global attention in 2021 as the story spread of how she was fighting child marriage in Zimbabwe through a combination of Taekwondo and discussions about the dangers of early marriage. Maritsa founded the Vulnerable Underaged People’s Auditorium Initiative in 2018 and teaches young girls taekwondo to instil self-confidence and create a safe space where they can share concerns and experiences and discuss issues such as child pregnancy and gender-based violence and harassment. Maritsa said: "Taekwondo tenets empowered me to fight for child marriages and had positive results to people who I impacted the Taekwondo tenets to. With Taekwondo we are indeed champions of freedom, justice and peace." Maritsa was nominated for the award by World Taekwondo who, like so many around the world, were inspired by her actions. Maritsa was invited to speak at the 2nd World Taekwondo Gender Equity and Women Leadership Forum in March last year and was one of the highlights of the forum. World Taekwondo has also been working with the Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association and the Korean government-funded Taekwondo Promotion Foundation to send equipment and supplies to support her initiative. World Taekwondo will continue to monitor her journey and provide the necessary help along the way. World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said: “Natsiraishe thoroughly deserves this award in recognition of the crucial work she is doing in supporting young women in her community. Her determination to reduce inequalities through sport and raise awareness through the global media has also helped these vulnerable women and girls to attend school and receive quality education. It is truly inspirational to witness her contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals and Olympic Agenda.” The IOC Women and Sport Trophy represents opportunity, recognition and empowerment. Each year, the IOC Women and Sport Awards are given to women, men or organisations who have made remarkable contributions to the development, encouragement and reinforcement of women and girls’ participation in sport.

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WT-FISU University Sports and Peace Forum Held SEOUL, Korea (Apr. 30, 2021)

The first World Taekwondo-FISU University Sports and Peace Forum was held virtually on April 30 as both organisations came together to promote the role of sport as a vehicle for world peace and harmony. The forum aimed to seek positive solutions and develop proactive suggestions to improve current difficulties through sport bringing people together. it comprised the sub themes of Humanity, Social Justice and Gender Equality and saw World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue deliver a keynote speech alongside FISU Acting President Leonz Eder. Following the keynote speeches, delegates heard from UNHCR Refugee sport Coordinator and Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) Board Member Claude Marshall; FISU Executive Board Member Delise O’Meally; and FISU Executive Board member and Gender Equality Committee Chair Rosaura Mendez Gamboa. Marshall’s speech centred on humanitarian support for refugee youth and the vital role of sports. Speaking from his ex174

perience with the UNHCR and the THF, Marshall addressed the value of sport for refugee youth and what university students can do to help. O’Meally addressed social justice and university sport; looking at the growing movement to speak out against social injustice, particularly racial injustice, and how university sports can engage. Mendez Gamboa discussed how sport can be a powerful tool for inclusion, and the work FISU is doing in promoting gender equality. The forum was moderated by Russell Ahn, vice chair of the WT Taekwondo for All Committee and Taekwondo Technical chair of FISU. Choue and FISU President Oleg Matytsin developed the idea for the forum during the Napoli Summer Universidade in 2019. The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding that same year and committed to creating a World University Sports Peace Corps which will cultivate future leaders through various sporting, training, and education programmes.

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Captured picture on NBC #AGT YouTube

Taekwondo’s Got Talent! Demo Team reach final of hit American TV Show

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The World Taekwondo Demonstration Team unleashed an eye-popping display of kicks ‘n tricks in the finals of the “America’s Got Talent” TV show on Sept. 14, showcasing the sport to an entirely new audience estimated at 10 million for the season. Though they did not, ultimately, win the competition, their months-long odyssey from the preliminaries through to the season’s grand finale capped a difficult, but ultimately triumphant year for Taekwondo. It followed the sport’s COVID-defying showing with the rest of the Olympic family in Tokyo 2020, and its triumphant debut on the Paralympic stage. For the TV show, the team blended their trademark high-octane, high-altitude Taekwondo skills with inspirational messaging. In June, the 24-member team had won the Golden Buzzer from host Terry Crews during the audition round. In the quarterfinals, the team fired off a three-minute routine that ended with the message, “Peace is more Precious than Triumph.” That prompted Judge Simon Cowell to exclaim, “I love your message, I love your talent, I love your ambition - This is what ‘America’s Got Talent’ is all about!” At the semifinals on Aug. 31, their performance held nothing back in terms of physical spectacle. “The danger level is off the charts!” an awed Crews commented. The theme was overcoming disasters and living together with hope. The team ended their performance by unfurling a banner which read: “Goodwill, Cooperation, Service.”

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At the finals on Sept. 14, the theme was recognizing, respecting, and harmonizing to overcome confrontation and antagonism. The flawless display of martial skills, seamless choreography and athletic excellence won a standing ovation from the show judges. “This is a show!” said Judge Heidi Klum. “If you see this live, I don’t care if you’re five or 95 - bring your whole family. I could watch a two-hour show just of this!” Prior to their finals performance, a member of the team said, in a video message, “This journey has given us an unbreakable bond and has absolutely made us stronger.” In audience voting on Sept. 15, Dustin Tavella was crowned the season's winner, taking home a $1 million dollar prize and a bagging show in Las Vegas. His act blended magic tricks with moving anecdotes about family and relationships. Even though the Demo Team did not go all the way, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue was full of praise. “I want to personally thank every single member of the WT Demonstration Team for showcasing our sport’s highest skill levels, as well as its positive values, in such entertaining style,” he said. “This initiative has taken Taekwondo out of the stadia and into the living rooms of millions of Americans – an entirely new audience for us. Thank you!.”

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Demo Team Win Golden Buzzer on France’s Got Talent

Demo Team Take Flight at Aerospace Show

RUEIL-MALMAISON, France (Oct. 20,2021)

SEOUL, Korea (Oct. 20, 2021)

The World Taekwondo Demonstration Team continue to amaze audiences around the world as they today secured the Golden Buzzer at the auditions of France’s Got Talent and are now fast tracked to the show’s final in December. The team put on a spellbinding performance which captivated the celebrity judging panel and those watching in the audience. Multi-million record selling singer Hélène Ségara decided the performance was worthy of the final and pressed the Golden Buzzer. Fellow judges, magician Eric Antoine, comedian Sugar Sammy and singer, actress, tv host and fashion designer Marianne James, shared Ségara’s praise for the act. The 12 members of the Demonstration Team were joined by seven members from France to total a team of 19, plus the head coach. The performance began with four female warriors showcasing different Taekwondo techniques before the male members of the team joined them and demonstrated energetic and acrobatic board breaking. France’s Got Talent is in its 16th season and is broadcast on French channel M6. The WT Demo Team has previously wowed audiences on the Italian and US editions of the global franchise. 180

The World Taekwondo Demonstration Team today performed at the pre-opening ceremony of the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition (ADEX 2021), held from Oct. 19-23, 2021. Ahead of the opening of the event which is being held at Seoul Airport in Seongnam-si, Korea, the team delivered a spectacular 15-minute performance. President Moon Jae-in and more than 300 people, including decretaries of defence, chiefs of staff and service personnel from 45 countries attended the opening ceremony. A total of 440 companies from 28 countries are participating in the five-day indoor and outdoor exhibition to introduce cutting-edge military and aerial technologies. World Taekwondo is exhibiting at the event with a booth which promotes the excellence of the sport to visitors. The ADEX show originated as the “Seoul Air Show” in 1996 and is now Korea’s largest exhibition specializing in aerospace and defence products. 181

AFRICAN TAEKWONDO UNION Issaka Ide

WT Continental Union

Presidents’ Messages

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I would like to congratulate the wisdom and foresight that guided the re-election of President Chungwon Choue at the head of our federation. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the members elected during the different sessions and meetings of our great sports organization. As you have followed in the news, the African Taekwondo Union has also taken center stage with the election of its new board. We extend our congratulations and encouragement to the elected officers. All of you have been and continue to be particularly challenged by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to emphasize and rejoice in the good resilience of our Continental Union under the authority of World Taekwondo. We can recall the good organization of the 12th African Taekwondo Championship, held June 5-6, 2021 in Dakar by the Senegalese Federation of Taekwondo. The Continental Union also held its first meeting of the Council in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with the very good reception of the dynamic Ivorian Federation of Taekwondo. I cannot forget the great, first-ever Women’s World Taekwondo Championship, from November 25-27, 2021, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the context of the promotion of gender equality in the discipline of Taekwondo, this event was undoubtedly a success. For World Taekwondo, the end of one year andthe beginning of a new one is an ideal time to look ahead. Our plans are important for the development of Taekwondo on the African continent and around the world. More than ever, it is urgent to develop the skills of all actors of our sport, whether athletes, coaches or referees. In this perspective, it will be necessary to promote the education of members. This can be done through training programs. The experts and the human resources qualified to supervise such meetings exist. It is necessary to take advantage of them judiciously for the good of our sport. Following the example of President Choue and the World Taekwondo Council the events that took place during the year clearly indicate a real desire to promote Taekwondo. We hope that the new year will continue to inspire and invigorate us in our aspiration to bring World Taekwondo to the heights of Olympism. This time of greetings is indeed a time of hope. With thanks and congratulations to all the members of the African Federation and the World Taekwondo, we also wish you a great year in 2022. Receive, all of you, our best wishes of health and success and progress for World Taekwondo in this new year.

ASIAN TAEKWONDO UNION

EUROPEAN TAEKWONDO UNION

OCEANIA TAEKWONDO

PAN AMERICAN TAEKWONDO UNION

Kyu Seok Lee

Sakis Pragalos

John Kotsifas

Juan Manuel Lopez Delgado

Dear Taekwondo family, I hope all your wishes come true in the new year. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has distressed us since the year before last, still has no end in sight. In addition, a new variant, Omicron, has appeared, making us nervous and threatening our free life. However, where there is a beginning, there is always an end, therefore, I believe that our Taekwondo family can overcome these difficulties better than anyone else with the mental and physical strength acquired while training Taekwondo. As you all well know, the Olympic Games are the largest sporting celebration held every four years, and Taekwondo kyorugi is one of the Olympic events. The ancient Olympic Games took place in Greece and ended after the 293rd Games in AD 393 in the Roman era. Afterwards, Pierre de Coubertin from France organized the IOC in 1894, and the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens. it was revived to promote international peace as well as the completion of humanity through sports. The word “sport” is derived from the Latin word “dispotare,” which settled in the modern world through the French word “desporte” and English word “disport.” The original definition of the word refers to entertainment, consolation, refreshment or satisfaction. “Des” and “dis” have a meaning of departing from daily work. In sum, “sport” means any physical activities for the purpose of refreshment or satisfaction away from the actual life. The characteristics of sports are, firstly, to have sociality; secondly, improvement; thirdly, sincerity and positivity; and fourthly, freedom and equality. Today, many people enjoy sports, and through sports events, the bonds between nations and people are strengthened and friendship is promoted. The final goal of sports is to establish regulations and compete accordingly to pursue victory. Athletes and coaches make a lot of effort to win at the competition and participate in the competitions so that they can achieve the results of their efforts. Moreover, regardless of whether we win or lose, we try hard again for the next competition and in this process, we achieve self-completion. Dear Taekwondo family: I hope all of us stay healthy and happy in the new year with positive energy.!

Let me start by wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful and blessed new year! The European Taekwondo family can look back at an amazing year. Our main event in 2021 was the Tokyo Olympics. European athletes delivered amazing results with five gold, six silver and eight bronze medals, making these Games the most successful for Europe in the history of the Olympics! A few weeks later, Taekwondo made its historic debut at the Paralympic Games and also here, European athletes were very successful. With one gold, three silver and five bronze medals, the European Paralympic athletes delivered an astonishing result! Europe restarted its event cycle in 2021 and hosted multiple events. Bulgaria was the host of the G4 European Senior Championships as well as the European Qualification event for the Tokyo Olympics, and delivered excellent events. The Presidents Cup was hosted by Turkey, and Estonia hosted an ETU event for the first time. Bosnia and Hercegovina was the stage for the European Junior championships and Portugal hosted the 15th European Poomsae Championships. Also, our members started to re-open their open international events and with appropriate corona virus precautions, events were successfully hosted throughout Europe. Even so, due to the pandemic, many activities were postponed. The ETU held many online activities, such as as poomsae competition, coach training, education and online meetings. In 2021, the ETU decided to host its General Assembly and Council meeting in person. It was such a pleasure to see all officials and friends again and the meetings were very successful. We have our first female vice-president and more female Council members than ever before. It was a great honor to be re-elected as president of the ETU by our members and for their support I will be for ever grateful. In 2022, the ETU will continue its mission of “Innovations in Motion.” European rankings for cadets and juniors will be continued as well as Generation 24 events focusing on the development of youngsters. The establishment of the European Taekwondo Performance Center will reach new horizons. For the first time, the ETU and host San Marino will host the European Championships for Small Countries. Also, for the first time, the ETU will host a European Championship in Self-Defense - a high-level event for a different target group. Our referee team is developing fair and transparent referee evaluation criteria. Para Taekwondo remains a priority of the ETU. with the establishment of the European Paralympic Taekwondo Union. The next step will be to gain the recognition of the IPC and further implement an organization which will fully focus on the development of Paralympic Taekwondo in Europe.

2021 was another challenging year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As was the case in 2020, we were again unable to host our normal scheduled events for our MNA’s and our athletes. However, the Tokyo Olympics saw eight Oceania athletes chasing their dreams. They included one Para athlete, Janine Watson, who became Oceania’s first Paralympic medallist, winning bronze. 2021 was a year that saw a review of our governance and constitution, together with that of all Continental Unions. We havs restructured in a significant way. One third of our newly elected Council now comprises females, showing the greater diversity and gender balance in our Council and committee structures. The restructuring also results in five Olympic athletes forming part of our Council structure, of which two are Olympic medallists (2000 Olympics and 2021 Paralympics). Janine Watson also heads up the Oceania Athletes Committee as its chair. We expect and hope that 2022 will provide much needed relief in our ability to engage with our MNA’s and to finally host scheduled events which are now rescheduled to take place in Tahiti in November 2022. There are five G-ranked events to be held in 2022: Presidents Cup G2 Tahiti Open G2 Oceania Open Para G4/G2 Oceania Championships (seniors juniors, cadets and mixed teams events) – G4 Oceania Poomsae Championships – G2 We now await the rescheduling of the WT World Championships in the last quarter of 2022, together with numerous other events that were all postponed in 2021. I look forward to meeting our Oceania family members face to face in 2022 and I wish everyone a safe, healthy and prosperous year.

In 2021, the world lived a new present. We learned the true sense of brotherhood and teamwork. Humanity began the road to economic reconstruction, and the sports community experienced an unprecedented Olympic Games. Firstly, I want to congratulate the Tokyo 2020 + 1 Organizing Committee as an example of organized work and desire to achieve a dream. And all those countries that little by little opened their doors to welcome the international community again, and who received the Taekwondo family. But even more, I salute the resilience of the athletes who came to these Olympic Games. The mental and physical strength they showed sets an example to all of us who love Taekwondo. To the athletes, referees, coaches, officials, and practitioners who follow our sport: “Thank you” for showing that Olympism unites us all. PATU also underwent a historical transformation. Since Oct. 9, we have been working hard to return transparency and good governance to our continent, and I am very sure that we will achieve it with the help of the Council! For the first time on the Continent, we saw the Junior Pan American Games in Colombia as the first of many projects that I am committed to successfully delivering. I want to send my best wishes for celebration, unity, joy, health, and prosperity to the entire Taekwondo family. 2021 has been a year of lessons that offers new and exciting challenges. 2022 will be total activity. Thanks to the exceptional leadership of President Choue, Taekwondo will be able to stand up like never before. At my end, I will enjoy greeting you all again.

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Part 3

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Crown Prince of Fujairah donates USD100,000 to Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation FUJAIRAH, UAE (Feb. 6, 2022)

he Crown Prince of Fujairah, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, announced during the Opening Ceremony of the Fujairah Open in Sheikh Zayed Sport City that he will be donating USD 100,000 to the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF). This is the third time the Crown Prince has made a generous donation having also previously donated in 2017 and 2020. He has previously spoken of the refugee crisis being of the greatest facing to humanity and offered his full support to the THF and the work it does in empowering refugees. World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said: “We are very grateful for His Highness’ generosity and continued commitment to supporting the THF in the vital work it conducts around the world. The money he has donated will make a real difference in the lives of so many refugees who participate in THF programmes. “We would also like to congratulate His Highness on the success of the Fujairah Open and the ongoing development of Taekwondo in the UAE.” The Fujairah Open is a G2 event with about 1,400 athletes and 350 officials from 56 countries plus Refugee team registered to compete. Syrian refugee Wael Fawaz Al-Farraj is competing in the event and became the first refugee athlete from the Azraq Camp in Jordan to compete in an international taekwondo event outside the country. The World Taekwondo Demonstration Team performed at the Opening Ceremony of the Fujairah Open on 6 February. The event concludes on 8 February.

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Refugee Athlete Wael Fawaz Al-Farraj Competes Abroad for First Time

efugee Taekwondo athlete Wael Fawaz Al-Farraj made history at the 9th Fujairah Open in UAE, as the first Syrian refugee athlete living in the Azraq Camp in Jordan to compete in an international tournament outside the country. The 19-year-old, competing under the World Taekwondo flag, took part in the Arab Cup in Fujairah, UAE on Feb. 3-4, 2022 before competing in the 9th Fujairah Open on Feb. 6-8 in the M-74kg category. Wael was the first refugee to graduate to a black belt from the Azraq Humanitarian Taekwondo Center back in 2017, paving the way for another 15 athletes to attain this achievement since then. Since June 2018, he was also a refugee athlete Olympic Solidarity scholarship-holder for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said, “Over the years, Wael has been a shining example of how refugee athletes can pursue their dreams through sport. His participation is a fantastic achievement and endorsement of the joint humanitarian efforts of World Taekwondo, the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, the International Olympic Committee, and the Olympic Refuge Foundation.”

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President Choue also thanked the authorities in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates for creating a pathway for Wael to fulfil his dreams. IOC President and ORF Chairman, Dr. Thomas Bach, also expressed his pride at Wael’s participation and urged for the continued support to refugees around the globe. Wael had previously taken part in a number of Taekwondo competitions in Jordan including the Asian Qualifications for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Asian Junior Championships in 2019. However, the Arab Cup and Fujairah Open mark the first time he has competed outside of Jordan. In recognition of their dedicated services and outstanding contribution to the development of Taekwondo, and for the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, President Choue presented appreciation plaques to Wael’s coach, Asef Sabah who is the head coach of the Humanitarian Taekwondo Center and to Ms. Farah Al Asa’ad, MENA Coordinator for THF.

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Young Refugees from Camps in Jordan Connect via Sports SEOUL, Korea (Apr. 6, 2021)

On the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), children from the Zaatari and Azraq Refugee Camps in Jordan had the opportunity to take part in online training sessions aimed to transmit to the young participants the positive values of sport and to encourage them to stay active and healthy during these challenging times. Over 150 girls and boys participated with great enthusiasm in this virtual celebration, organized by Peace and Sport in cooperation with the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) and NGO Blumont, and with the support of UNHCR Jordan. All shared moments of fun, discovered new sports, and experienced together the joy of practice. The coaches of the “Live Together” program in Zaatari Camp and the Taekwondo Academy in Azraq

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Camp combined their coaching experience with their knowledge on sport for development and peace to educate the young participants on the role that sport can play in their lives. Thanks to training sessions in Kickboxing, Self-defense, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Teqball, the young participants shared a fun experience, and at the same time, learned values that will help them to overcome challenges and become respectful and peaceful persons. The joint performance of the “Poomsae for Peace” choreography designed by the THF’s coaches contributed to creating bonds among boys and girls living in Zaatari and Azraq. Virtual interaction with two Champions for Peace, Maria Toorpakai, a professional Squash player from Paki-

stan, and Pascal Gentil, a Taekwondo Olympic medallist from France, provided a great moment of sharing and exchange for all children and coaches. Joël Bouzou, president and founder of Peace and Sport, said: “This virtual April 6 celebration, connecting children and coaches from two different refugee camps, once again demonstrates that sport has no barriers. Even in the most difficult circumstances, sport brings people together; it gives hope and promotes resilience. This is the message of April 6, and through this virtual celebration, we made it a reality.” “This year’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is a reminder of our shared responsibility to contribute to a peaceful and inclusive society through sport,” said THF President Chungwon Choue.

“For many youth and children in the Azraq and Zaatari Refugee Camps, sport provides them with a dream to overcome their realities. Let’s help end the pandemic by ensuring everyone is protected from COVID-19. Let’s level the playing field and recover better.” All participants also joined the rest of the world by participating in the global #WhiteCard campaign launched by Peace and Sport to celebrate IDSDP. By raising their #Whitecards, the young participants and their coaches shared a message of resilience, solidarity and hope. The “Live Together” program introduces sport as an innovative tool to tackle the social issues affecting refugees in Zaatari Camp. The program is supported by the government of Monaco and the Jordan Olympic Committee.

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WT, THF, Reaffirm Commitment During First World Refugee Forum LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Jun. 21, 2021)

World Taekwondo President and Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) Chairman Chungwon Choue reiterated the two organizations’ commitment to supporting refugees and displaced persons through sport during the first World Refugee Forum on World Refugee Day. The forum, organized by the THF and World Taekwondo, was held online. Delivering a message over video, Choue said: “On this day we remember the difficulties refugees and displaced persons face in their everyday lives,” Choue said via video. “It is also the day we reaffirm our commitment to making the world a better and more peace-loving place. “Today. we celebrate the indomitable spirit of refugees and displaced persons through the first World Refugee Forum. We hope this forum will grow into a platform for refugees and displaced persons to share their experiences and receive recognition and hope for a better future. On this World Refugee Day, I wish to reaffirm the THF and World Taekwondo’s commitment to help refugees and displaced persons through sport and service.” HRH Prince Rashid bin El Hassan, President of the Jordan

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Taekwondo Federation, which partnered with World Taekwondo and the THF to host the event, highlighted the situation of refugees in Jordan and discussed how sport can help empower them. Following the opening speeches, THF Board Member and UNHCR Refugee Sport Coordinator Claude Marshall,gave a comprehensive presentation on the UNHCR and its role in supporting refugees practice sport. Programme Manager of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Vassilis Kalyvas, gave a speech about what the IPC has been doing for Paralympic refugee athletes since Rio 2016, and also provided details on the IPC STEADY project, which, financed by the European Union, helps these athletes through the practice of para sport in Greece. A live interview took place with THF refugees in the Azraq Camp in Jordan as well as the Kiiziba Camp in Rwanda. All the refugees expressed the importance of taekwondo in their lives and how it teaches them respect, strength, courage and gender equity and provides them with a sense of belonging to the global Taekwondo Family. There was also an interview with a Paralympic athlete who later qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: Parfait Hakizimana, a refugee in Rwanda, who originally hails from Burundi. He is now a THF coach and hopes to give back to society what Taekwondo has given him. Abdullah Sediqi, a refugee in Belgium who is originally from Afghanistan, started Taekwondo from the age of eight. From the beginning, he liked competition and was always trying to become a good player. When he heard that IOC President Thomas Bach announce his name on the Refugee Olympic Team, he was delighted. In closing, Choue spoke of how sport can act as a vehicle for change and urged everyone to continue this journey together.

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THF Official Conquers Kilimanjaro to Raise Money for Refugees

aekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) Coordinator in Jordan, Farah Al Assa’ad, reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and unveiled the THF flag as part of her fundraising mission for the Foundation. Al Assa’ad set off on the expedition to Africa’s highest peak in mid-January in order to raise funds to support the work of the THF. She was led by Mostafa Salameh, the

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first Jordanian to reach the top of Mount Everest. “I would like to send a message to support the refugees in all refugee camps around the world,” Al Asa’ad said. “To achieve their dreams and aspirations by practicing sport that develops their bodies, minds, and their self confidence, that teaches them tolerance and sport’s ethics, and enlighten their lives with hope for a

World's ‘7 Summits’ Eyed in High Altitude Fund-Raising Venture

better future. “The mountain that has inspired the African continent on its journey to freedom, today extends its inspiration to reach all the world’s refugees, renewing hope in them and promising them a better tomorrow.” The THF empowers refugees by provideing training and education through Taekwondo.

arah Al Assa’ad, Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) coordinator in Jordan, is set to take on a second of the “Seven Summits” as she aims to climb Mount Elbrus in Russia to raise funds to support the work of the THF. Al Assa’ad summited Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest mountain – in February. The Seven Summits are the highest mountains on the world’s seven continents. Al Assa’ad intends to raise the THF and World

Taekwondo flag at the top of Mount Elbrus. “I’m getting chills whenever it comes to my mind that I am on my next journey to climb the highest peak in Europe,” Al Assa’ad said. “[I am] hoping to inspire generations to come,” by raising the banners of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation and World Taekwondo, she said. Taekwondo “has shaped my personality and I’m grateful forever for it being part of

my life and for connecting me to a cause I’m proud of always representing,” she continued. The THF empowers refugees by providing training and education through Taekwondo. The THF currently has produced 12 black belts and hopes to have its first Olympic athlete compete at Paris 2024 “I’m hoping you will all support refugees and help them achieve their dreams,” Al Ass’ ad said.

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Tiny Taekwondoin is Youngest Refugee to Tie on a Black Belt (Sept. 7, 2021)

Doaa Al-ayoub has become the youngest refugee in the world to be awarded a black belt in Taekwondo. She is just six years old. The tiny athlete was tested by the Jordan Taekwondo Federation and everyone watching was impressed by her performance and self-confidence. After testing, she asked her father if she could go to a children’s theme park as a reward for her performance. Al-ayoub is among 16 students to have been awarded black belts at the Azraq Taekwondo Academy in the Azraq Refugee Camp. The academy is managed by the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) as part of its commitment to empower refugees through Taekwondo.

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THF Board Meets, Appoints Cito New Member LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Oct. 30, 2021)

‘Angelo brings a lot of experience and expertise and will help us strengthen the support we provide to refugees around the world, through Taekwondo’

“We are delighted to partner with the Olympic Refuge Foundation and work in collaboration with other NGOs to implement this new project,” Choue said. “At the THF we have always made it clear we are very open to working with other organisations and other sports to expand the opportunities for refugees.” During the meeting there was also a presentation on THF projects underway in 2021 including in Jordan (Azraq Camp), Turkey (Elbeyli Camp), Rwanda (Mahama and Kiziba Camps) and Switzerland (Lausanne). The project in Switzerland started in August 2021 with the support of EVAM (Etablissement Vaudois d’Accueil des Migrants) and BCI (Bureau Cantonal pour l’Intégration des Etrangers et la prévention du Racisme). In total, 2,500 refugees are taking part in THF programs around the world.

The meeting was hosted by the World Baseball and Softball Confederation at their headquarters. WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said: “I am pleased to have been able to personally welcome President Choue and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation Board to the WBSC headquarters. Hosting the THF Board meeting is a symbol of our continued close collaboration following the memoranda of understanding signed with THF and World Taekwondo last year to promote humanitarian, values social inclusion, peace and development-supporting activities, especially for youth. The international baseball and softball community is proud to use our sports as a vehicle to encourage good health and well-being in communities, especially for refugees for whom the WBSC has pledged to use baseball and softball to improve accessibility to sport.”

The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) Board met in Pully, Lausanne, on Oct. 30 to discuss a number of key issues and appoint a new board member. Chairman of the Fondazione Umanitaria Italiana di Taekwondo(FUIT) and President of Federazione Italiana Taekwondo (FITA) Angelo Cito, was elected as a member of the THF Board for a three-year mandate during the meeting. “We are delighted to welcome Angelo,” Choue said. “Angelo brings a lot of experience and expertise and will help us strengthen the support we provide to refugees around the world through Taekwondo.” In other business, board members discussed the THF’s partnership with the Olympic Refuge Foundation, which will see the implementation of a project for refugees within a consortium of five other NGOs in Paris. The project will start by the end of January 2022 at the latest and will last for three years. The project will be a Paris 2024 legacy programme.

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ADF, Taekwondo Cares, Offer Discipline, Skills, Confidence to Vulnerable in 4 Asian Nations Taekwondo's mission to empower the powerless continues across Asia

orld Taekwondo started Taekwondo Cares programs in four countries - Bhutan, Cambodia, Nepal and Sri Lanka - on Dec. 10, 2021 for a one-year period. The activities were made possible by financial support provided by the Asia Development Foundation (ADF). The programs are designed to assist, strenghten and rehabilite the most vulnerable members of society, mentally and physcially, through training in Taekwondo. Under the theme “Road to Recovery through Taekwondo,” the 2021-2022 Bhutan WT-ADF Cares Program kicked off a project which will benefit about 400 young people at three alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers in Thimphu and Paro, and two designated schools for poomsae and demonstration education in Thimphu. In cooperation with the Bhutan Taekwondo Federation, the U.S.$35,000, Season 2 project will provide Taekwondo training to underprivileged members of society, offering hope, dignity and happiness. After evaluating the Season 1 Bhutan Cares Program, WT decided to continue the Season 2 program. The Bhutan Cares project team observed “renewed enthusiasm and noticeable changes in mental and physical health, discipline and outlook

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among Cares students who received Taekwondo training,” according to the 2020-2021 Bhutan Cares evaluation report to WT. The 2020-2021 Bhutan WT-ADF Cares Program, which ended on Dec. 9, 2021, was offered to 302 people at three drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers and one school. Under the theme “Road to Champions" (Season 3), the 20212022 Sri Lanka WT-ADF Cares Program will assist 120 street, homeless, displaced and rehabilitating children. All will receive free taekwondo training at five centers - in Colombo, Badulla, Monaragala, Galle, and Anuradhapura. In cooperation with the Sri Lanka Taekwondo Federation, the $30,000, Season 3 Sri Lanka Cares program targets street children in Sri Lanka. The number of street children in Sri Lanka is estimated to number around 15,000. For the Cares projects, the street children were defined as children who lived in the street and were adopted by child care centers. The previous Season 2 Sri Lanka WT-ADF Cares Program, which ran from Dec. 10, 2020 - Dec. 9, 2021, benefitted a total of 113 students in four centers in Colombo, Kegalle, Galle and Anuradhapura. The Sri Lanka Season 2 Cares evaluation report, which was submitted to WT, showed that, “Taekwondo has made signif-

icant changes in students’ behavior regarding anger control and their physical health. Some of the students have shared their personal experiences.” It continued, “After enrolling in the project they were able to spend their days more productively and got more energy for their educational and other activities, more patience in difficult situations, muscle relief and new hopes for tomorrow." Under the theme “Beginning a New Life through Taekwondo,” the 2021-2022 Cambodia WT-ADF Cares Program (Season 2) will benefit about 150 children at three training centers in three different provinces: one center for children living in landfills around Phnom Penh; one center for children living in Siem Reap floating villages; and one center for alcohol- and drug-addicted children in Poipet. The $30,000, Season 2 Cambodia WT-ADF Cares Program is being conducted in cooperation with the Cambodia Taekwondo Federation and the Cambodia Taekwondo Academy. The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic forced the rescheduling

of the Cambodia Cares Program Season 2. WT started its Season 1 Cambodia WT-ADF Cares Program on Oct. 21, 2019 for a oneyear period, targeting 20 female children victimized by trafficking and sexual slavery, and 50 male homeless street children. Under the theme “Let’s Build the Future with Taekwondo (Season 2),” the Nepal WT-ADF Cares Program will be offered to 111 children, including 65 females. In cooperation with the Nepal Taekwondo Association, the $30,000, Season 2 Nepal Cares program will take place at three sites. A women empowerment program for deprived women and girls, and victims of household and sexual violence, will be held at Maiti Nepal. Reformatory inmate programs for young prisoners will take place at Prisoner Assistance Nepal (NP Nepal) and the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC). As its first Cares program, WT signed a one-year cooperation agreement with the Nepal Taekwondo Association in early May 2019 to launch the Nepal WT-ADF Cares Program, which benefitted 88 students from two reformatory inmate centers – Prisoner Assistance Nepal and the Early Childhood Development Center - as well as 162 students from four women empowerment centers – Rakshya Nepal, Genesis Academy, Sasha Nepal, and Maiti Nepal. Besides the one-year WT-ADF Cares programs, WT wired $20,000 to the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) in December 2021, which will be used for the production of t-shirts for children at the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan and the Elbeyli Refugee Camp in Turkey. The funds are part of the 2021 ADF-donated funds. Since 2019, WT has carried out WT-ADF Cares programs for selected Asian MNAs with financial support from the ADF. The ADF donated $90,000 to WT in 2019, $150,000 in 2020 and $200,000 in 2021 for the Cares program. WT sent the guidelines for the 2022-2023 WT-ADF Cares program to WT MNAs in the Asian region in November 2020. WT will make a final decision on the successful Cares projects by country in the first half of 2022. Besides Taekwondo, WT is considering adding Korean language clases for its WT-ADF Cares students.

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THF and Italian Taekwondo Charity to Work Together

Contest Held for Amateur Taekwondo Videos Produced around the World

Sports Minister Recognizes ADF on Taekwondo Day

SEOUL, Korea (Dec. 3, 2021)

SEOUL, Korea (Sept. 10, 2021)

An award ceremony for the 2021 Taekwondo User Created Content (UCC) Contest, and a panel discussion on Taekwondo’s development, were held at Hotel Riviera in Seoul, Korea on Dec. 3, 2021. The event was promoted by the Asia Development Foundation (ADF) and jointly organized by the Korean Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (KAHPERD), World Taekwondo (WT), the Kukkiwon and the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA). Under the theme “All for Taekwondo in Everyday Life,” the 2021 Taekwondo UCC Contest was held from Oct. 5 - Nov. 12, 2021. In contention were 305 video entries from 13 countries, including France, Rwanda, Cambodia, China, Belarus, Jordan (Azraq Refugee Camp), Sri Lanka, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, and Indonesia. Under the main theme, the contest featured three sections: “Fun Taekwondo,” covered people’s enjoyment of dynamic Taekwondo; “Showing Up Taekwondo,” covered classic Taekwondo activities such as kyorugi, poomsae, and demonstrations; and “Together Taekwondo,” covered Taekwondo among multicultural families, disabled people, mixed generation families. Each submitted video was required to be in a 1920 X 1080 pixel format with a run time of between 30 seconds and two minutes. Applications and submissions were made via the websites of the ADF at www.asiadf.org and KAHPERD at www.kahperd.or.kr. The total prize money offered was 24 million won (about $20,000). The Grand Prize winner was France-based ENVOL TKD’s “Amateur,” which won 5 million won ($4,200). “Taekwon Hallyu,” “Triple Jay” and “Poom Taekwondo,” all from Korea, were chosen as the Best Excellence Award winners, earning each 3 million won ($2,500). “MIRME EXTREME TAEKWONDO,” “Dobok Sori,” and “Raon’ were selected as ‘Excellence Award’ winners, grabbing 2 million won ($1,700) each. “Let’s Go,” “Corona Breaking” and six other videos were chosed as “Encouragement Award’ recipients, bringing home 500,000 won ($420) each. The Chiazzia people in Buton, Indonesia, won a special award from the ADF in recognition of their efforts to promote Taekwondo and the Korean language. Before the award ceremony, there was a panel discussion on how to develop Taekwondo, which invited WT President Chungwon Choue and KTA President Jin-bang Yang as panelists. President of KAHPERD Do-kyun Kim served as a moderator. Joon-il Kim, chairman of the ADF, said “Through this Taekwondo video contest, I hope both Korean and foreign people will take more interest in Korea’s national sport of Taekwondo,” said Joon-il Kim, chairman of the ADF. “I hope Taekwondo will be loved and respected by the world as a martial art-Olympic sport.” In 2018, GCS International signed a four-party memorandum or understanding with WT, the International Center for Korean Culture (ICKC) and the ADF for the promotion of Taekwondo and the Korean language worldwide.

The Asia Development Foundation (ADF) received a commendation from the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), on the occasion of 2021’s Taekwondo Day. The ministerial citation was given to the ADF in recognition of the federation’s years of financial support to World Taekwondo to help empower the powerless in developing countries in Asia, thus helping enhance the image of Taekwondo abroad. The Korean government has commemorated Taekwondo Day since 2008. On Sept. 4, 1994, the International Olympic Committee decided to include Taekwondo as an official sport at the Sydney 2000. Because of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Taekwondo Day ceremony did not take place but a commemorative video was shown to the public. The commemorative video featured congratulatory speeches by Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Hwang Hee, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue, Kukkiwon President Dong-sup Lee, Taekwondo Promotion Foundation Chairman Eung-hwan Oh, and Tae-woong Oh, chairman of the Korea Taekwondo Association for the Disabled. The speeches were followed by the introduction of the recipients of the ministerial citations. Among the recipients were the late Jin-young Kim, a former Uzbekistan National Taekwondo Team head coach, in recognition of his efforts to help Uzbekistan win a gold medal for the first time in Taekwondo at the Tokyo 2020. The Italian Taekwondo Federation, headed by Angelo Cito, was recognized for its efforts to foster closer relations with the Vatican and to arrange a Taekwondo demonstration in front of the Pope. On behalf of Minister Hwang, WT President Choue delivered the ministerial citation to ADF Chairman Joon-il Kim at the WT Headquarters in downtown Seoul on Sept. 10. In 2019, the ADF signed a memorandum of understanding with WT to provide financial support for the WT Taekwondo Cares Program. Under the MOU, the ADF delivered 100 million won ($90,000) to WT for the 2019 WT Cares Program, followed by donations of $150,000 in 2020 and $200,000 in 2021. The ADF donations have been used to support one-year’s worth of free Taekwondo education for orphans, young prisoners, female household victims, alcohol and drug addicts, etc. in such countries as Nepal, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan. WT and the ADF plan to expand the projects to Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Jordan and other countries this year, pending the COVID-19 situation.

SEOUL, Korea (May 18, 2021)

The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) today signed a cooperation agreement with Fondazione Umanitaria Italiana Taekwondo (FUIT) as the two organisations pledged to work together to promote mutual humanitarian activities. The agreement was signed online. Under the terms of the agreement, the two parties will exchange ideas and knowhow as well as support each other in raising funds for their respective initiatives and projects for refugees. FUIT will also help to strengthen the THF’s presence in Italy and the European Union. “We are delighted to sign this cooperation agreement with Fondazione Umanitaria Italiana Taekwondo and strengthen the THF’s presence in Italy and throughout the European Union,” said THF Chairman Chungwon Choue. “Our objective is to support as many refugees as possible through Taekwondo and so it is important we work with partners who can provide knowledge and networks in specific markets and continents. “After Switzerland, both President Choue and I strongly wanted to have THF 202

official representation in Italy and in the European Union,” said Federazione Italiana Taekwondo (FITA) President Angelo Cito . “The decision to bring the THF to Italy was born from the desire to put Taekwondo at the service of people and especially children in difficulty.” Cito noted the relevence of the sport as a social virtue. “Taekwondo is a wonderful discipline which, in addition to being an Olympic

sport, is a universal discipline for everyone,” he said. “My greatest desire was to promote the THF to Italy, which will have as its main purpose the exploration of the values and principles of brotherhood and integration of Taekwondo at the service of society.” The THF plans to sign more cooperation agreements with the aim of enhancing its presence across the five continents in order to help more refugees worldwide.

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Taekwondo Accelerates Refugee Inclusion in France Taekwondo is serving as a boost for the social inclusion of young refugees or displaced persons in the Ile de France, the region surrounding the French capital, Paris. On Jan.12, 2022, the French Minister for Sport Roxana Maracineanu took part in a working group for the “Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation Project” led by the French Federation of Taekwondo and Associated Disciplines (FFTDA) in partnership with the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF).

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Alongside a high-level sportswoman at INSEP, the National Insittue for Sport, five refugees, immigrants and former asylum seekers have been chosen to lead a project as social workers, sports workers, communication and research officers in the Centres d’Accueil de Demandeurs d’Asile (CADA), which process those seeking assylu in France. The five have been using Taekwondo, sometimes for several years, as a tool for social integration and citizenship. At INSEP, in the presence of Maracineanu, the Humanitarian Taekwondo Foundation and the project’s partner organisations (Club Hanok, Jess Van Thuyne Gentilly, the Taekwondo League of Ile de France and the Francophone Mental Training Association) signed agreements to cover the future work contracts of the five. The originality of the programme is its focus on inclusion through the practice of Taekwondo. Morever, those supervising the uprooted young people in the CADA are people who have experienced the same situations. As such, they are able to offer realistic advice and prospects for social and professional integration. After the first initiation, which will help restore confidence and self-esteem, the beneficiaries of the program asylum seekers or refugees in Ile de France - will begin a 12-session learning cycle. The cycle will offer opportunities for socialisation, including learning the French language. The final stage of the

project will involve their inclusion in a partner club. After passing their first grade, they will be able to join the partner structure free of charge. Membership will then be paid for in full within the framework of the project. Their immersion in the club will promote social links with other members, lead them to learn and take on the rules of society, and ensure the continuity of their integration within France. Under this concept, the THF, in partnership with the FFTDA, joined a consortium of six partners in Sept. 2021, including the NGOs Play International, Kabubu, Futbol Mas, Ovale Citoyen and Emmaüs Solidarité. They were selected in the framework of a call for projects by the Olympic Refuge Foundation and the Ministry of Sports, in order to design a unique programme to support displaced persons or refugees in the Ile de France region through sport. This project is mainly financed by the Ministry of Sports through a 1 million euro grant to the Olympic Refuge Foundation, which was created by the International Olympic Committee. Being social coaches is part of the DNA of Olympic international federations. These federations have the skills and capacities to to play a leading role alongside NGOs. In order to promote this societal role at the heart of federal projects, the Ministry of Sports will conclude commitment contracts with the federations, based on a common foundation.

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Event Calendar DATE

PLACE

EVENT

March 14 - April 20

Online

Muju Taekwondowon 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Open Challenge I

April 21-24

Goyang, Korea

Goyang 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships

June 3-5

Rome, Italy

Roma 2022 World Taekwondo Grand-Prix

June 10-12

Muju, Korea

Muju Taekwondowon 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge

July

Online

Muju Taekwondowon 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Open Challenge II

July 28-31

Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia 2022 World Taekwondo Cadet Championships

August

Wuxi, China

Wuxi 2022 World Taekwondo World Cup Team Championships

August 2-7

Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia 2022 World Taekwondo Junior Championships

September 2-4

Paris, France

Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand-Prix

October

Online

Muju Taekwondowon 2022 World Taekwondo Poomsae Open Challenge Final

October 21-23

Manchester, UK

Manchester 2022 World Taekwondo Grand-Prix

November

Mexico, Cancun

Cancun 2022 World Taekwondo Championships

November

TBD

World Taekwondo Children Championships

November

TBD

World Taekwondo Women's Open Championships

December

Wuxi, China

Wuxi 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Slam Champions Series

December

Wuxi, China

Wuxi 2022 World Taekwondo Grand-Prix Final

TBD

2022 10th World Para Taekwondo Championships

TBD

World Taekwondo Beach Championships

TAEKWONDO Official Publication of World Taekwondo 109

2022 ISSN 1599-3779

Publisher / Chungwon Choue Editor-in Chief / Magazine Director / Heesoo Noh Editors / Andrew Salmon, Yeni Lee Contributing Photographers / Pyunggil Lee, Denis Sekretev, Amandine Lauriol Designed by / DN (www.d-n.kr | d-n@daum.net)

World Taekwondo is delighted to bring you the official publication of the federation. Taekwondo magazine epitomizes our enthusiasm and progressive mindset in leading Taekwondo and the World Taekwondo. Taekwondo magazine is published annually. It is a summary of the previous year’s events, competition results and happenings throughout the world of Taekwondo. It provides the events of the year, interviews with Taekwondo stars and useful information on Taekwondo.

This publication and its contents may not be reproduced, even in part, in any form, without the written permission of the World Taekwondo.

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