Novik was previously in 20^th position on the standings but shot up the rankings as a result of his performance in the Mexican city.

American taekwondo player Felix Sabates managed to squeeze into the top 10 of the K44 75kg category after he secured silver in the category at the Pan American Para-Taekwondo Championships, held on June 12.

A total of 31 athletes from 15 countries across the region took part at the Championships, which was the first competition this year to include classes for intellectually disabled (P20) athletes and athletes with a neurological impairment (P30).

It was also the first continental Para-taekwondo championships to take place in the region since the announcement of the sport’s inclusion in the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games in March.

Based on July’s rankings, athletes will be seeded for the upcoming 5th European Para-Taekwondo Championships, due to be held in Warsaw on September 16.

It is set to be the largest Para-taekwondo event in 2016.

A host of athletes have made their first entry onto the Para-taekwondo world rankings, including Costa Rica’s Andres Molina, who beat Sabates in the final of the K44 under 75kg event.

The Costa Rican taekwondo player has gone straight to number seven on the standings.

Mexico’s Francisco Pedroza is the new world number eight in the over 75kg category following his gold medal-winning display in Querétaro, while compatriot Angelica Vargas Ramirez has entered at number six in the women’s K44 under 58kg weight class.

Brazil’s Lucas Almeida has surged to number seven in the K42 under 61kg after he also won Pan American Para-Taekwondo Championships gold.