Newly launched taekwondo event to be held in Germany

By Baek Byung-yeul

The first World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) President’s Cup will be held in Bonn, western Germany, Thursday through Sunday.

More than 1,500 athletes will take part at the Telekom Dome, competing in 18 weight categories across three age divisions -- cadet, junior and senior. Senior athletes are classified as 17 and older while junior competition includes athletes born between 1999 and 2001. The cadet event will feature athletes born between 2002 and 2004.

The federation said the competition will use a single elimination system, with individual matches consisting of three two-minute rounds.

“Taekwondo is a sport for all regardless of age, gender and background,” WTF President Choue Chung-won said. “Having cadet, junior and senior athletes all competing on the same day will be a completely unique experience for athletes and spectators.”