Amid a sizzling global heatwave, the world’s top taekwondo fighters will be raising the temperature even higher in Moscow, as the second edition of the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series 2018 kicks off for a three-day run at the USK CSKA Basketball Arena in the Russian capital on Aug 10.
Based on the Olympic Ranking of June 2018, theevent invitesthe sport’s top230 taekwondo athletes,hailingfrom 50 countries, to compete in eight Olympics weight categories (four male, four female). In Moscow, they will be contesting for sporting glory, Olympic ranking points for Tokyo 2020 and prize money: USD5000 for gold medalists, USD3,000 for silver medalists and USD1,000 for each of the two bronze medal winners.
Several categories are truly up for grabs, as four of the sport’s top fighters will not be in Moscow. From Team Korea, triple world champions LeeDae-hoonand Tae-hun Kim will be competing in the Asian Games; the two are top contenders in the M -68kg and M -58kg, respectively. From Team GB, double World Champion BiancaWalkden (W +67kg) and double Olympic champion Jade Jones (W -57kg) are taking a break. And from Thailand, the world number one,PanipakWongpattanakit at W -49kg will also not be appearing but will participate in the Asian Games.
Names to watch in the male division include MikhailArtamanov, in M – 58kg; the Olympic-ranked number three in his category; the crowd-pleasing 2016 Olympic silver medalist AlexeyDenisenko in M – 68kg, ranked number four; the toweringMaksimKhramtcov in M -80kg, ranked number three; and at heavyweight, world number oneVladislavLarin. Among the women’s categories, TatianaKudashova is the number three ranked contender at W -57kg.The firstWT Grand Prix of 2018 took place in Rome, Italy. Post-Moscow, the third edition of the series will be inTaoyuan, Chinese Taipei – the first time the Grand Prix event has been held in Chinese Taipei - and the fourthin Manchester, GB. The Grand Prix Final is set forFujairah, UAE.
ENDS
25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
PUBLICIDAD
PUBLICIDAD
Últimas Noticias
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts
The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
McLaren report to FIBA confirms abuses in the Mali women’s basketball program
The investigation could not “independently verify” allegations against FIBA president Hamane Niang, who has resumed his duties after stepping aside during the probe.
ATR Extra: 1st ISF U15 World School Sport Games – Belgrade 2021
Olympic Channel is live streaming the basketball, basketball 3x3, football, judo and wrestling competitions during the event, which runs September 11-19.
International Judo Federation bans Algerian athlete and coach for 10 years for refusing to fight an Israeli at Tokyo 2020
Judoka Fethi Nourine and his coach Amar Benikhlef admitted they were withdrawing from competition to avoid a potential match with Tohar Butbul of Israel.
IIHF bans Belarus hockey president for five years for code of conduct violations - Federation Focus
Also: no contested election for next ITTF president; BWF calendar shrinks as event in India cancelled due to pandemic; FISU announces early bids for 2027 and 2029 World University Games
