ParaTaekwondo will look for its new champions of America in Santiago 2023

PATU Press (10/11/2023). With the participation of 68 competitors from the region, the second historic edition of the ParaTaekwondo tournament will be held at the ParaPan American Games Santiago 2023, from November 23 to 25, at the Contact Sports Center of the Chilean National Stadium Sports Complex.

Lima 2019 brought together in the debut of ParaTaekwondo in the ParaPan American Games program 47 competitors from 16 countries in six weight divisions, where Leonor Espinoza K44 -49kg (PER), Nathan Torquato K44 -61kg (BRA), Silvana Cardozo K44 -58kg (BRA), Juan Diego Garcia K44 -75kg (MEX), Daniela Martinez K44 +58kg (MEX) and Evan Medell K44 +75kg (USA) were proclaimed as the first champions.

In the overall medal count, Brazil and Mexico shared the top of the podium with two gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze, while the United States, Peru, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica and Jamaica also won medals.

This event was the springboard for the Americas to stand out in the debut of ParaTaekwondo at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where there were 24 medals at stake and athletes from 17 nations, in a tournament in which each continent saw at least one athlete on the podium and in which the Pan American area harvested seven medals: the golds of Nathan Torquato BRA, Juan Diego Garcia MEX and Leonor Espinoza PER; the silver of Debora Menezes BRA and the bronzes of Juan Samorano ARG, Evan Medell USA and Silvana Fernandez BRA.

Growth and expansion

Four years after Lima 2019 and two years after Tokyo 2020 (21), ParaTaekwondo is presented in Santiago 2023 with an expansion percentage of almost 50% regarding weight divisions: a total of ten categories (five for men and five for women), as well as an overall number of 70 competitors (44 men and 26 women) from 15 countries will give life to this tournament in the heart of Chile:

Men's K44: -58kg, -63kg, -70kg, -80kg and +80kg

Women's K44: -47kg, -52kg, -57kg, -65kg and +65kg

Representatives from Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, United States, Dominican Republic and Venezuela will be part of the most important Taekwondo Parapan American party in the continent.

The best exponents of the world, including medalists and Paralympic champions arrive in Santiago 2023 with an extensive tour of the new competitions of the World Para Taekwondo circuit, where the first two seasons of the Para Taekwondo Grand Prix Series stand out, as well as the celebration of the last World Championships in Veracruz 2023, events where America has stood out considerably.

Notable athletes from the Americas who will be present in Santiago are defending U.S. champion Evan Medell, Brazil's Paralympic gold medalist Nathan Torquato and Paralympic bronze medalist Juan Samorano of Argentina.

In the women's division, Peruvian Paralympic champion Angelica Espinoza Carranza and Mexico's Claudia Romero are looking for a new confrontation. The Aztec Jessica Garcia, world champion in Veracruz this year and her country's standard bearer, also wants the continental summit.

Brazil, meanwhile, threatens to extend its dominance and favoritism over Mexico with world champions Silvana Cardoso Fernandes and Carolina Silva de Moura.

Santiago 2023 technical delegate and Para Taekwondo Committee member Chakir Chelbat was confident, according to World Para Taekwondo, of another successful regional championship after the Hangzhou Asian Para Games.

"We are just a few days away from witnessing another spectacular continental Games. The organizers of Santiago 2023 are working very hard and are determined to deliver a great event and a great platform for all athletes. We are in regular contact with them, through meetings and online discussions," said Chelbat.

He also reported that 16 international referees have been appointed for the Games.