The second edition of the event was open to participants from around the world, however, athletes from Asia were given the opportunity to secure twice as many ranking points at the tournament as athletes from other continents.

This has had a significant impact on the world rankings with many athletes moving up and down places.

Russia’s Vitali Nazarenko has leapfrogged Germany’s Hasim Celik and Turkey’s Faith Celik in the men’s K44 under 75 kilograms category to take second place.

It leaves Hasim Celik third and Faith Celik fourth in what is Para-taekwondo’s largest and arguably most competitive division.

Iran’s Mahdi Pourrahnama remains number one in the men’s K44 under 75kg world rankings after maintaining his undefeated run, stretching back to when the world rankings were introduced in January of last year. 

The close battle for the number one spot in the men’s K44 over 75kg continued with Iran’s Asghar Aziziaghdam moving just ahead of Croatia’s Ivan Mikulic following his third-place finish in Manila.

There was a change at the top of the women’s K44 under 58kg with Russia’s Ayshat Ramazanova taking the number one spot from three-time world champion Lisa Gjessing of Denmark.

Turkey’s Mehmet Sami Sarac dropped from first to third in the men’s K42 under 61kg with Iran’s Saeid Sadeghianpour and Mongolia’s Shinebayar Batbayar both moving up one place each to first and second respectively.

Following the Asia Open Championships, India and Philippines have placed athletes on the world rankings for the first time.

The event was the first of five continental Para-Taekwondo Open Championships set to take place this year with African, Pan American, European and Oceanian equivalents also due to be held.

The next continental event is due to be the first-ever African Championships, scheduled for May 22 in Port Said in Egypt.

Registration for the event is still open with athletes from nine countries representing three continents already signed up.

The full list of world rankings can be found here.