A record 75 male and female athletes competed in six weight categories, across four classifications at the 2014 Championship in Antalya, Turkey.

But the European Para Taekwondo Union (EPTU) anticipate that the fourth staging of the Championship will break that record, following their announcement in February that it would be an open event for the first time, allowing all World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) members to participate.

Additionally, the tournament will count as the first ranking tournament in Europe, with European athletes awarded set to receive G4 ranking points.

Athletes from other continents will earn G2 ranking points at the tournament, helping to establish them in the fledgling world rankings introduced in February at the Canadian Open.

By allowing making the Championship an open event and giving athletes ranking points, the EPTU hope more athletes will be attracted to compete as the sport builds to its Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020.

Para-taekwondo has been included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic programme ©WTF



"Para-taekwondo has developed rapidly in Europe and World over the last couple of years," EPTU President Aleksandr Shlychkov said.

"The European Continent has a great number of countries and top athletes participating in Official International Para-taekwondo events.

"The hard work put into Para-taekwondo development has resulted in that athletes have a chance to take a part in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games."

Competitors at the Championship in the Moldovan city are due to be classified on April 18 and 19, before competition taking place on April 20.

The Moldovan Taekwondo Championships will run alongside the European Para-taekwondo Championship, while the second International Seminar for Classifiers will also take place during the event, enabling doctors who speak fluent English the opportunity to become international classifiers.

Following the Championship, athletes will continue their preparations for the sixth World Para-taekwondo Championship, due to be held in Turkish city Samsun on September 18.