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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