Para taekwondo will debut at Tokyo 2020 ©World Taekwondo

Para-taekwondo athletes have spoken of their excitement three years from the sport making its Paralympic Games debut at Tokyo 2020.

The sport was added to the Paralympic Games programme in 2015, with para-taekwondo joining para-badminton in making their debuts in the Japanese capital.

It was confirmed earlier this month that para-taekwondo will have six medal events at Tokyo 2020, with the International Paralympic Committee revealing 537 medal events will be held in 22 sports.

American athlete Evan Medell believes the sport has benefited since its introduction to the programme.

Medell, winner of Oceania and Pan American titles this year, claims athletes are relishing the opportunity of becoming one of the first Paralympic medallists in the sport.

“It’s every amateur athlete’s dream to represent his or her country at the Paralympics or Olympics,” he said.

“Now we have the chance to be the first to represent our countries in the sport of taekwondo.

“We have the chance to be one of the first to medal in taekwondo and we have the chance to win the first gold medal in taekwondo.”

It has been claimed the sport has increased in competitiveness since news of its addition to the Paralympic programme in 2015.

The number of athletes has also risen, with a total of 225 now featuring in the men’s world rankings, compared to 113 in January 2015.

American athlete Evan Medell believes the sport has benefited from its addition to the Tokyo 2020 programme ©World Taekwondo
American athlete Evan Medell believes the sport has benefited from its addition to the Tokyo 2020 programme ©World Taekwondo

There are also now 61 women represented on the rankings, whereas previously there were 28.

A total of 55 countries are competing in the sport internationally, whereas only 32 were prior to the announcement of the sport’s addition.

Argentina’s Facundo Andres Novik, a competitor in the men’s under 61 kilogram division, claimed he is full of emotion due to the opportunity to represent his country at the Games.

“I was waiting all day for the moment,” Novik said of the sport’s addition.

“It happened at dawn in my country, so I just woke up and I called my coach.

“I love the sport and being able to represent my country at the Paralympic Games is something that fills me with emotion.”

The growth of the sport is expected to be shown next month, when the World Para Championships get underway in London on October 19.

The event is the highest category competition on the calendar, offering athletes the chance to claim crucial world ranking points, as well as titles.