World Taekwondo Federation's 2013 World Championship momentum continues in Puebla, Mexico

136 countries and 868 athletes took part in this year’s World Championship, showing the truly universal nature of taekwondo. The seven day event, from 15 to 21 July, comprised three sessions each day and took place at the Exhibition Centre in Puebla, Mexico.

The competition was fierce with Korea leading the medals table, Cuba coming second, and Mexico a close third. Taekwondo is fast becoming the second most practiced sport in the Pan American Region, as demonstrated by this year’s World Championship. Mexican athlete and bronze medallist in the 2013 US Open, Uriel Adriano Ruiz, came from behind to beat Russia’s Albert Gaun in the men’s -74kg final and win the gold medal. It was the first Mexican gold medal at the WTF-promoted World Taekwondo Championship in 34 years. Mexico had previously won two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

In the men’s +87kg division, Gabon’s Anthony Obame, silver medallist at the London 2012 Games, continued to display his taekwondo prowess as he went on to win gold.

There were a few other surprises as gold medal hopefuls in the women’s -67kg weight category - Turkey's Nur Tatar, silver medallist at the London 2012 Games, and Paige McPherson of the United States, bronze medallist at the London 2012 Games - failed to advance to the quarterfinal match. Great Britain’s Jade Jones, gold medallist at the London 2012 Games, lost to Hamada in a fourth sudden death round of a quarterfinal match. Hamada went on to win Japan’s first silver medal at the World Taekwondo Championship.

President Choue commented at the closing ceremony:

"We have made history this week! From the incredible competitions, to the amazing fans, Puebla has been something taekwondo has never seen before!

"I would like to thank the organizing committee, the city and state of Puebla, and the great nation of Mexico. You created this stage for these athletes to shine!

"To the athletes, you have inspired the stars of tomorrow and you have inspired the world. It doesn’t matter if you won a medal or not. You proved that you really are the best taekwondo athletes in the world.

"To all of the fans, you gave the athletes the power to do their best and reach for their dreams. Thank you for your energy."

Jean Marie Ayer, WTF Secretary General said:

"The 2013 WTF World Taekwondo Championship has been a huge success with 28 medals distributed among 19 nations. The competition continues to highlight that taekwondo is a global sport with global appeal. The quality of the athletes continues to be strong, as was clearly demonstrated in Puebla. In addition, we have had a significant number of spectators watching the World Championship online this year.

"During the last week, 80,000 users spent time browsing the WTF website. Our visitors are from countries all around the world including the USA, Korea, Mexico, Iran, GB, Spain, Brazil, France, Turkey and Germany, Canada, Russia, Serbia and Japan."

Medal ranking (TOP 6)

Nation

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Korea

6

2

1

9

Cuba

2

0

3

5

Mexico

1

2

1

4

Iran

1

2

0

3

Russia

1

2

0

3

France

1

0

3

4

Men’s Results -2013 WTF World Taekwondo Championship 15-21 July

Individual winners by category:

Men – 54Kg

Medal

Name

Country

Gold

KIM Tae-Hun

Korea

Silver

HSU Chia Lin

Chinese Taipei

Bronze

NAKAVIROJ Jerranat

Thailand

Bronze

SHERIF Hussein

Egypt

Men – 58Kg

Gold

CHA Tae-Moon

Korea

Silver

MOSTEAN LORON Had

Iran

Bronze

ALVES Guilherme

Brazil

Bronze

VILLA Damian

Mexico

Men – 63Kg

Gold

LEE Dae-Hoon

Korea

Silver

MENDOZA Abel

Mexico

Bronze

BARCLAIS Stevens

France

Bronze

WEI Chen Yang

Chinese Taipei

Men – 68Kg

Gold

ASBGHIKHANGHAH Behn

Iran

Silver

KIM Hun

Korea

Bronze

DIEYE Balla

Senegal

Bronze

ROSILLO ATENCIA Jose Antonio

Spain

Men – 74kg

Gold

Adriano Uriel

Mexico

Silver

GAUN Albert

Russia

Bronze

KIM Yoo-Jin

Korea

Bronze

TRABELSI Salfeddine

Tunisia

Men – 87Kg

Gold

CASTILLO Rafael

Cuba

Silver

MA Zhao Yong

China

Bronze

ISAEV Radik

Azerbaijan

Bronze

TRABELSI Yassine

Tunisia

Men +87Kg

Gold

OBAME Anthony

Gabon

Silver

MARDANI Sajjad

Iran

Bronze

DESPAIGNE Robellis

Cuba

Bronze

TRAJKOVIC Ivan

Slovenia

Women’s Results -2013 WTF World Taekwondo Championship 15-21 July

Female – 46Kg

Medal

Name

Country

Gold

KIM SO-Hui

Korea

Silver

VALUEVA Anastasia

Russia

Bronze

FARHANI Fadia

Tunisia

Bronze

REN Dandan

China

Female – 49Kg

Gold

SONKHAM Chantip

Thailand

Silver

TOURAN Dana

Jordan

Bronze

AGUIRRE Yania

Cuba

Bronze

ZANINVIC Lucija

Croatia

Female – 53Kg

Gold

KIM Yu-Jin

Korea

Silver

ZANINOVIC Ana

Croatia

Bronze

LIBORIO Floriane

France

Bronze

NUNEZ Yamisel

Cuba

Female - 57Kg

Gold

KIM So-Hee

Korea

Silver

HAMADA Mayu

Japan

Bronze

CALVO Eva

Spain

Bronze

FROEMMING Anna Lena

Germany

Female – 73Kg

Gold

HERNANDEZ Glenhis

Cuba

Silver

LEE In-Jong

Korea

Bronze

IKONEN Casandra

Sweden

Bronze

VOKEY Jasmine

Canada

Female +73Kg

Gold

IVANOVA Olga

Russia

Silver

ACOSTA Briseida

Mexico

Bronze

BAJIC Ana

Serbia

Bronze

GRAFFE Anne- Caroline

France

For more information contact Niva Shrestha at sg@wtf.org.

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