South Koreas Taekwondo Earns 3 Beijing Berths
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
South Korea's taekwondo team earned three appearances to the 2008 Beijing Olympics at the World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament in Manchester, England.
On the second day of the competition, Sohn Tae-jin topped the men's 68-kilogram class, despite suffering an injury, and two-time world champion Hwang Kyung-seon also took a Beijing berth in the women's 67 kilograms.
In his fourth match, Sohn, 19, got his left elbow dislocated. But after an emergency treatment, he came back to beat Dominican Garcia 6-3. The injury couldn't stop him en route to the final against Gessler Viera Abreu of Cuba. With his flamboyant kicking, he was crowned in a 4-1 win.
Hwang, 21, lost to France's Gwladys Epangue 2-6, whom she defeated at the World Taekwondo Championships in Beijing in May. But according to the rule that the top three athletes in each weight division qualify for the Olympics, she claimed her trip to Beijing.
Meanwhile, Cha Dong-min came in third in the men's over 80-kilogram division to get promoted to the Olympics.
The WTF World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament kicked off in Manchester on Friday for a three-day run. A total of 328 athletes, including 189 males, from 104 countries are participating in the tournament, which is under way at the Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena.
``I am proud to announce that 328 athletes from 104 countries are participating in the tournament," WTF President Choue Chungwon said during the opening ceremony. ``Among them, 24 of the most deserving athletes will qualify for their national Olympic committees with a place in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.''
Through the WTF's five continental qualifications, a total of 96 places, comprised of 48 men's and 48 women's places, will be allocated. Asia, Europe and Pan America will be allocated 24 places each in the same competition format. Africa and Oceania will have 16 and eight places, respectively.
The African Taekwondo Qualification Tournament is scheduled for Nov. 1 to 3 of this year in Tripoli, Libya, followed by the Asian qualification Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The Oceania qualification is slated for Dec. 1 in New Caledonia; the Pan-American qualification on Dec. 7-9 in Cali, Colombia; and the European qualification on Jan. 26 through 27 of next year in Istanbul, Turkey.