A total of 86 athletes from 25 nations competed at the event in Switzerland- a significant boost on the 58 athletes from 14 countries that competed at last year's event in Santa Cruz in Aruba.

In these, the fourth edition of the Championships, Russia came out on top of the medal table with four gold, seven silver and two bronze, ahead of Turkey, who also took four gold medals along with one silver and two bronze, and third-placed Iran, whose representatives left with three gold medals.

On the eve of the event, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) signed Memorandums of Understanding with the International Sport Federation for Para-Athletes with Intellectual Disability (INAS) and the Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association (CPISRA).

WTF President Chungwon Choue said: "I am proud to announce that the WTF has signed these important Memorandums of Understanding to work together and include new competitors and disciplines into taekwondo.

"As the WTF works towards its dream of taekwondo being included in the Paralympic Games in 2020, it is vital to have the support of – and for us to support and encourage - organisations who share our belief in sport for all and the values of self-discipline, respect and self-awareness.

Viktoria Marchuk of Ukraine (left) became two-time WTF World Para-Taekwondo Champion in Lausanne

"Para-taekwondo is fast becoming a popular sport globally and it is testament to how far the sport has spread since the inaugural Games in 2009 that the 59 medals handed out at the tournament were distributed amongst 20 different countries."

Jean-Marie Ayer, Secretary General of the WTF, added: "The signing with INAS and CPISRA is a very important step in the development of para-taekwondo activities.

"We wish to offer the value and benefits of playing taekwondo to as many people as possible and must expand our sport in order to achieve this.

"Organisations such as INAS and CPISRA provide extraordinary pathways towards sport for those who have intellectual and neurological differences.

"I believe our next steps are working with both of these great new partners to develop grass-roots programmes to nurture new disciplines within taekwondo."

Contact the writer of this story at james.crook@insidethegames


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