South African Koos Engelbrecht has been appointed head of the new Para-Taekwondo Governing Board ©WTF

The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) have appointed eight members, including two athletes representatives, who will make up the Para-Taekwondo Governing Board.

Following the confirmation in January that the sport would appear on the Paralympic programme at Tokyo 2020, the establishment of the Governing Body was seen as a crucial step towards establishing its long-term position as part of the Games. 

The enactment of a Para-taekwondo bylaw in May, confirmed the establishment of the Board, who will come responsible for the development and governance of the sport.

South Africa’s Koos Engelbrecht, head of the WTF Para-Taekwondo Committee which worked on their successful Tokyo 2020 Paralympic bid, has been announced as the chairman of the new body.

Under the WTF statues, Engelbrecht will now automatically become an ex-officio member of the WTF's ruling Council.

"It is an honour for me to be appointed as chairman of the Para-Taekwondo Governing Board,” he said.

“This is a task I will take up to serve WTF and its members to the best of my ability.

“I am looking forward to working with the Para-Taekwondo Governing Board and continuing the development of Para-taekwondo to become a leading sport in the Paralympic family."

Taekwondo is due to make its debut on the Paralympic programme at Tokyo 2020
Taekwondo is due to make its debut on the Paralympic programme at Tokyo 2020 ©WTF

Australia’s Steven Currie and Canada’s Lisa Standeven have been revealed as the two athlete representatives on the Board.

They will be joined by American Dr Gabriel Fife and Ireland's Dr David O’Sullivan.

The eight-person Governing Board is completed by Canada’s Terrie Moore, Russia’s Aleksandr Shlychkov and Professor Fernando Akilian of Argentina.

Among the tasks the Governing Board will face are the expansion and promotion of taekwondo across the world for people who have impairments, act as representatives of the WTF and the Paralympic Movement and help to implement the sport’s strategic plan between 2015 and 2020.

Additionally the Board have also been tasked with the aim of getting Para-taekwondo included in multi-sport events at Continental and world level.



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