Taekwondo’s bid for inclusion in the 2020 Paralympic Games has been given a boost after record numbers contested the WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships a day after the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with two international sport-for-all organizations.
Eighty-six athletes from 25 nations competed, about one third higher than at last year’s tournament in Santa Cruz, Aruba when 58 athletes from 14 countries participated.
WTF President Chungwon Choue said, “I am proud to announce that the WTF has signed these important Memorandums of Understanding to work together and include new competitors and disciplines into taekwondo.
“As the WTF works towards its dream of taekwondo being included in the Paralympic Games in 2020, it is vital to have the support of – and for us to support and encourage organizations who share our belief in sport for all and the values of self-discipline, respect and self-awareness.
“Para-taekwondo is fast becoming a popular sport globally and it is testament to how far the sport has spread since the inaugural Games in 2009 that the 59 medals handed out at the tournament were distributed amongst 20 different countries”.
The WTF is now working alongside the Paralympic Family to gain Olympic and Paralympic Games inclusion for the taekwondo disciplines of Kyorugi and Poomsae.
