The first-ever meeting of the Governing Board took place in Samsun last month, following the sixth edition of the World Para-Taekwondo Championships.

Choue awarded official appointment letters and presented gifts to members at the gathering, which was opened by South Africa’s Koos Engelbrecht, chairman of the body.

Australia’s Steven Currie and Canada’s Lisa Standeven are the two athlete representatives on the Board, while completing the list of members is the United States’ Dr Gabriel Fife, Ireland's Dr David O’Sullivan, Canada’s Terrie Moore, Argentinean Professor Fernando Akilian and Russia’s Aleksandr Shlychkov, President of the European Para Taekwondo Union.

"The Para-Taekwondo Governing Board has been carefully selected to ensure that the WTF has a solid base to develop taekwondo as an all-inclusive sport and expand the competition formats to include athletes of all disabilities," said Choue.

"Their work will also be to perfect all aspects of the Para-taekwondo kyorugi discipline that will be featured on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games programme."

Previously, other committees and departments were appointed in order to fulfil the aims and objectives of the Governing Board, which is faced with the task of expanding and promoting taekwondo across the world for people who have impairments, acting as representatives of the WTF and the Paralympic Movement, and helping to implement the sport’s strategic plan between 2015 and 2020.

During its inaugural meeting, the Governing Board prepared amendment proposals to Para-taekwondo bylaw, Para-taekwondo competition rules, and Para-taekwondo poomsae competition rules.

Members especially concentrated on the Para-taekwondo world rankings for both kyorugi and poomsae, with a new system for the latter expected to be rolled out in the near future.

Also discussed was the upcoming events in 2016, while the annual and biannual Para-taekwondo events plan was formed.

Following confirmation in January that the sport would appear on the Paralympic programme at Tokyo 2020, the establishment of the Governing Body was seen as a crucial step towards securing its long-term position as part of the Games

Special attention was paid by members to preparations for the Games, as well as the WTF strategic plan. 



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