Italy’s Antonino Bossolo has broken into the top five of the Para-taekwondo world rankings in the men’s under-61 kilograms K44 category ©Antonino Bossolo

Italy’s Antonino Bossolo has broken into the top five of the Para-taekwondo world rankings in the men’s under-61 kilograms K44 category after his victory at last month’s European Open Championships in Plovdiv in Bulgaria.

The Italian’s first continental title saw him rise three positions to world number four.

Bossolo stunned world number one Bolor-Erdene Ganbat of Mongolia in the semi-final and world number two Mahmut Bozteke of Turkey in the final to earn his new ranking spot.

The top four fighters in the K44 rankings at the end of 2019 will automatically earn a slot for their country at Tokyo 2020,  where taekwondo will make its Paralympic Games debut.

Two other K44 fighters also moved into the all-important qualification places.

Azerbaijan’s Aynur Mammadova is up to number four in the women’s over-58kg after the 2015 world champion claimed her first European crown.

Turkey’s Gamze Gurdal has replaced the United States’ Brianna Salinaro as world number four in the women’s under-58kg thanks to her European bronze.

Serbia’s Nikola Spajic and Marija Micev both moved into their respective divisions’ top 10 after bronze medal wins in Plovdiv.

Serbia's Nikola Spajic now sits at number eight in the men’s under-75kg K44 standings ©World Taekwondo
Serbia's Nikola Spajic now sits at number eight in the men’s under-75kg K44 standings ©World Taekwondo

Spajic now sits at number eight in the men’s under-75kg K44 standings, while Micev has climbed six spots to number eight in the women’s under-58kg K44 rankings.

After a fifth-place finish at the European Open Championships, Croatia’s Ivan Mikulic remains world number one in the men’s over-75kg K44.

He now sits 21.48 points above world number two Asghar Aziziaghdam of Iran.

European champion Mehmet Vasif Yakut of Turkey shares the number one ranking with Iran’s Mahdi Bahramiazar in the men’s K43 equivalent.

France’s Bopha Kong remains undefeated in major events this year and continues to lead the men’s under-61kg K43.

Mongolia’s Enkhtuya Khurelbaatar still tops the women’s under-49kg K44 division after winning in Plovdiv.

Ukraine’s Viktoriia Marchuk leads the K43 equivalent after her European gold.

Remaining as world number ones are Iran’s Mahdi Pourrahnama in the men’s under-75kg K44, Ukraine’s Anton Shvets in the men’s under-75kg K43, Denmark’s Lisa Gjessing in the women’s under-58kg K44, Great Britain’s Amy Truesdale in the women’s over-58kg K44, and Turkey’s Seyma Nur Emeksiz Bacaksiz in the women’s over-58kg K43.  

For the full rankings, click here.