The Assembly, which took place at the Grand Hotel, approved changes to the competition rules and poomsae competition rules which will see Para-taekwondo accommodated in both kyorugi and poomsae events.

The amendments to the WTF general statutes are claimed to "encourage greater participation in Para-taekwondo and promote the values of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)".

Changes to the kyorugi competition rules will see round times extended and a new scoring system based on technical difficulty that it is hoped will encourage athletes to attempt more challenging and interesting techniques.

These rules will be introduced during the 5th WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships, due to take place in Moscow between June 21 and 22, following the announcement from the WTF yesterday.

"We have no doubt that these amendments will contribute to the growth of Para-taekwondo and encourage more people than ever to engage in the sport," said WTF President Chungwon Choue after the General Assembly.

"With 206 Member National Associations (MNAs), taekwondo is a truly global sport and it is our goal to get as many of our MNAs participating in Para-taekwondo as possible.

"We have received interest from more than 40 MNAs in participating in this year's WTF World-Para Taekwondo Championships which is fantastic and shows how far the sport has come - but we want to do more.

"Under the new WTF statutes, it is now a requirement of the MNAs to send two or more athletes to participate in the Championships in order to be eligible for full membership status at the General Assembly.

"This will dramatically increase participation and encourage MNA's to actively promote the sport in their country, helping to ensure Para-taekwondo is accessible to as many people as possible worldwide."

A Council Meeting in Chinese Taipei also saw the WTF name Moscow as the hosts of the 2014 World Para-Taekwondo Championships ©WTF


The General Assembly in Chinese Taipei also saw the approval of the WTF Para-taekwondo classification rules and regulations.

These new rules, created using the findings of the sport-specific evidence-based research carried out by the WTF in December 2013 and January 2014, were presented to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in February in order to ensure they complied with the IPC handbook and classification code.

The updated rules and regulations are hoped to provide a significant step in the development of Para-taekwondo and its campaign for inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic programme.

"Having a new classification system based on comprehensive research and scientific evaluation is essential in making sure that all athletes are given a fair and equal chance to compete," said WTF secretary general Jean-Marie Ayer.

"The classification rules will ensure that the athletes' success is determined by their skill, fitness, power, endurance, and tactical ability; the very same factors that account for success in all disciplines of taekwondo.

"But this process does not stop here - we are constantly looking to develop and refine our classification system through ongoing research and assessment."

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