The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has launched the ranking system in keeping with its pledge to guarantee the highest level of competition at Tokyo 2020, should the sport gain a spot on the Paralympic programme.

It is hoped that this new system will develop and maintain the high level of performance that has become standard for Para-taekwondo as it pushes for inclusion at these Games.

"This is a very significant step forward in the development of Para-taekwondo," said WTF President Chungwon Choue.

"Our number one priority is our athletes and the introduction of world rankings will ensure that the very best athletes compete against each other regularly.

"Not only will this improve the competition but it will also provide the best spectacle for fans.

"If we have the honour of being included on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Programme this world ranking system will form the basis of the qualification process and guarantee the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) and the global Para-sport fan base the very strongest depth of field at the Paralympic Games."

The Canadian Open in Toronto will be the opening event of a busy 2015 for Para-taekwondo with this ranking system set to be implemented across the year.

The Open in Canada is due take place from February 13 and 15 and include both poomsae and kyorugi competitions.

It will be graded G1, the lowest graded tournament in the new system.

Multi-national sport competitions for Para-athletes, such as the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation World Games, have been assigned grade G2, while Continental Championships will be G4 and the World Para-Taekwondo Championships G8.

The grade of each competition determines the number of rankings points one can earn through their performances with winners of G8 tournaments earning 80 points compared to 10 for winners of G1 contests.

Winners of G2 and G4 competitions will earn 20 and 40 points respectively.

There will be a continuation of the weight and classification divisions at each WTF-recognised event, allowing for fair competition between athletes.

The top four competitors from category will also be seeded.

World Para-Taekwondo Championships will be given the highest grade of G8 in the new world ranking system while Continental Championships, multi-sport Para-athlete events and Para-Taekwondo Opens will rank G4, G2 and G1 respectively ©WTF




The addition of the new system is joined by a firmer focus on poomsae competitions for intellectually disabled athletes.

The 2014 WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships in Russia saw intellectually disabled athletes compete for the first time, with this continuing at the Canadian Open.

This inclusion in Canada will be an opportunity for athletes to prepare for Para-taekwondo's inclusion as a demonstration sport at the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS) Global Games in Ecuador in 2015.

The WTF then hopes to be included as an official sport at the 2019 INAS Global Games.

"We are honoured to be the first hosts of a world ranking Para-taekwondo event," said Tony Nippard, President of Taekwondo Canada.

"As a country, Canada has excellent sports hosting experience and we are delighted to be providing an opportunity for both kyorugi and poomsae athletes to compete at an elite level in front of our sports-passionate crowd.

"I know that the introduction of world rankings will be very well received by all the athletes and it is a reflection of the increasing professionalism of the sport.

"We look forward to welcoming athletes from all over the world to Canada."

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