The 2017 US Open Para Taekwondo was the first para taekwondo competition of 2017 and saw matches across various Kyorugi classes and Poomsae P20 (intellectually impaired) and P30 (motor impaired) classes, as the WTF continues to honour its commitment to providing opportunities for all athletes.

A total of 25 athletes – including 12 athletes competing at an international para taekwondo event for the first time – from nine different countries spanning three continents took part in the event.

 

Notable results from the Open, included:

Japan claimed their first ever gold medal in a Para Taekwondo event as Chikara Ito took the top honours in the K44 Male Under 61Kg.

Jamaica’s Shauna-Kay Hines won silver in the K44 Female Under 58kg in her first ever appearance at a WTF Para Taekwondo event.

2016 Pan American Para Taekwondo Open Champion, Guillermo Erazo Schauer from Honduras, was unable to repeat last year’s success at the Pan American Para Taekwondo Open and had to settle for silver in the P20 Male competition.

Sheng-Ting Chen became Chinese Taipei’s first ever Para Taekwondo Kyorugi athlete to compete internationally and finished fifth in the K44 Male Over 75kg.

Canada’s Cappello was unable to overcome France’s Kong in the K43 Male Under 61kg at the third attempt following losses at the 2016 Pan American Para Taekwondo Open and 2016 European Para Taekwondo Open and had to settle for silver.

Alyssa Fencil, made her first appearance at a WTF Para Taekwondo event and in a surprise victory, defeated the world number 3, Laura Schiel of France, in the K44 Female Over 58kg. The results of the 2017 US Open Para Taekwondo saw 10 new athletes (five male and five female) enter the World Rankings for the first time. Other notable changes to the World Rankings are:

Japan’s Chikara Ito moved up six positions to 12th in the K44 Male Under 61kg World Rankings after winning gold at the 2017 US Open Para Taekwondo.

USA’s Felix Sabates jumped three places to 5th place in the K44 Male Under 75kg.

USA’s Espinosa moved from 6th place to 5th place in the K42 Male Under 75kg.

K44 Male Over 75kg winner Evan Medell of USA remains in 5th and Mexico’s Francisco Pedroza moved up from 9th to 6th in the same category.

 

For the full World Ranking list please click here.