Para Ti, Para Mi, Para Taekwondo!

This was the new slogan launched by the World Para Taekwondo as they held the training course and selection of International Referees to Paris 2024 Paralympic Games earlier this month.

Around 100 IRs participated in the four-day training and selection held in Mexico City, where an amazing atmosphere of spirit and enthusiasm surrounded.

At the end, 45 IRs were selected after four days of hard work and dedication – that included attending lectures, taking physical test, medical test, and assessment.

The selected IRs will be evaluated in various tournaments before they are being approved for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

“We have had amazing four days of training course that was full of charisma and spirit. The atmosphere was great with lot of enthusiasm and keenness from the participants. My colleagues did a great job, with their best ability and in one of the best conditions.

“Everyone was happy at the end with the learning experience,” said Chakir Chelbat, World Taekwondo technical delegate and chairman of Para Taekwondo Committee who along with Usman Dildar, vice chairman of the Committee, delivered the training course.

“World Taekwondo has also sent the result to all the participants, who were already given a participation certificate after the course,” he highlighted.

Chelbat also expressed his great thanks to the Mexico Taekwondo Federation, their President, support staff for the great facility and fantastic hospitality.

“The course was delivered in best conditions and facility, all thanks to the Mexico Taekwondo federation and its staff,” he added.

Chelbat also pointed out that Mexico has a rich history in Taekwondo with several World Championship, Grand Prix’s held in the country in the past.

“Thus, it was a perfect place to host the camp with such great facility. It was also a real good opportunity for World Taekwondo and Mexico Federation to witness the preparation of the upcoming World Para Taekwondo Championship in Veracruz in September.

Dildar added: “Mexico is always supportive of Taekwondo, especially Para Taekwondo. The Mexican athletes, coaches, federation, and the Mexico Taekwondo and government is really supporting the Para Taekwondo Movement. The reason that our leadership chose Mexico is because Mexico has amazing facilities and a great heart for people with special needs. I have no doubt about the capability of the Mexico Taekwondo Federation, about the expertise in organising a successful international event.

“I am sure that it is going to be one of the best Para Taekwondo events ever and we are really looking forward to it."

Barely five months to go for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games, a two-member World Para Taekwondo team travelled to Hangzhou for a three-day site visit to meet with the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games Organizing Committee (HAPGOC) and visit the Para Taekwondo venue - Guali Cultural and Sports Center.

Para Taekwondo Committee vice chairman and WT technical delegate Usman Dildar and WT Para Taekwondo director Olof Hansson inspected the venue on May 17, 2023.

The inspection followed a meeting with Guali town officials to learn what the town has planned for the Asian Para Games.

The World Taekwondo officials also met with the Organising Committee (HAPGOC) to discuss plans and tasks to be completed leading up to the Games.

“In regard to the site visit for the 4th Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the hard work of the organising committee (HAPGOC). We had a comprehensive facility assessment where we experienced excellent preparations.

“All facilities were meticulously evaluated including the field of play, spectators stand locker rooms, medical facilities ITO and NTO’s rooms, sport presentation and training and warming up halls. Each aspect of the preparation was well-maintained and met the requirements of World Taekwondo,” Dildar said praising the preparations.

The World Taekwondo officials’ visit also highlighted the exceptional logistical planning and execution for the event. “All necessary arrangements such as transportation, security measures and other protocols were well co-ordinated and they demonstrated high level of preparations.”

Dildar also pointed out good safety and security measures for all participants. “We prepared dining experience for all participants. Their attention to details revealed meticulous documentation including comprehensive presentations, photographs measurements and detailed observations. Only a few minor suggestions were communicated with the OC about the venue accessibility and raised platform on the field of play” he added.

Meanwhile, the Bipartite process for Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games has begun. Application for Bi-partite invitations for Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games closes on May 31, 2023.

Hurry! Send in your applications if you have not done so already.

The clock is ticking!

It’s less than two weeks to go for the Vichy 2023 Virtus Global Games which will also feature Para Taekwondo on June 9, 2023.

The sport’s featuring at the Global Games will hold a lot of significance as this is the restart of Para Poomsae competition since the COVID Pandemic.

The Virtus Global Games will also witness the new Para Poomsae rules being tested for the first time in Vichy. For the time being, however, only classes II1 / II2 / II3 will be used there.

Multiple-time world champion from Colombia Johrmary Rojas Cordoba would be among the oines to watch out for during the event, which will be competed by 20 other Para Taekwondoins at the CREPS-Centre Omnisports.

Twelve International Referees and one Technical Delegate will be part of the Games. The training for the IRs under the new rules will take place on June 8, 2023.

It should to be noted that Para Taekwondo Poomsae will also be included on the Veracruz 2023 World Para Taekwondo Championships.

The World Taekwondo conducted an out-of-competition classification in Seoul, South Korea.

The out-of-competition classification, which was claimed as 'great success', saw 27 athletes (24 males and 3 females) classified and majority were confirmed.

The classification provides a great advantage for MNAs who would like to classify in their own country with unlimited number of athletes.

The claasification was led by International classifers Dr. Hadwah Moawad and Tunde Szarka, along with two International classifier trainees (Sivam Arumugam & Dr. Unjin Park).

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level I required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

(International Para Taekwondo Coach Certification Level II required for all coaches)

For the full, updated 2023 calendar, please click HERE.

In a proud moment for the Para Taekwondo fraternity, Paralympic champions Nathan Torquato from Brazil and Lisa Kjær Gjessing from Denmark were felicitated at the World Taekwondo Golden Jubilee Gala in Baku, to mark the 50th Anniversary of World Taekwondo.

The Paralympians, who received the award as the Best Male and Best Female Athletes of Tokyo 2020 Games, were among the 14 invitees who have participated in the Olympics and Paralympics since 2000.

"I feel great joy to be present at the gala party celebrating the 50th anniversary of World Taekwondo, where I was receiving the award for best male athlete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games! The best athletes of all editions of the Olympic games were awarded. It is a great joy to be alongside all these Taekwondo legends. I would like to thank everyone who was part of my journey and who somehow helped me get where I am!

"My story is just beginning!," said an elated Torquato.

Gjessing added: "Super proud to be in that company. But as I feel, standing on the shoulders of most of those who were at that party, and what they have accomplished, I stand there also only because I have had the best family, the best people and team-mates and organizations around me. Thank you Team!"

Nepal is still celebrating the historic win of their Para Taekwondo star Shrijana Ghising's historic win at last year’s season-ending Para Grand Prix Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ghising defeated beat the world’s top three fighters on the way to the unprecedented medal, including a 12-0 win over Turkey’s reigning world champion and No. 1-ranked Meryem Cavdar in the final.

The Para Taekwondoin and her coach Kabiraj Negi Lama who trained her despite the struggles, were honored by Nepal Taekwondo Association with prize money. 

Ghising, who also has silver medals at the Bahrain 2021 Asian Youth Para Games and Para 4th WT President's Cup Asian Region Taekwondo Championships 2022, in Tehran, has now set her sights in the gold medal at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games due to be held in October.

With just four months to go for the World Para Taekwondo Championships, the Mexico Taekwondo Federation (Federación Mexicana de Taekwondo) made a technical visit to Veracruz to review the preparations of the upcoming Championships due to be held in September 2023.

The visit also included meetings and among the ones present were Ivan Francisco Martinez Olvera, Secretary of Tourism and Culture of the State of Veracruz, and Karen de Lucio and Jorge Galván, managers of Grand Fiesta Americana Hotel.