World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue has shown his appreciation to the "mascot" of the Ivory Coast team ©FITKD

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue has shown his appreciation to the "mascot" of the Ivory Coast team.

The South Korean recognised Saturnin Yehoulou, also known as DJ Bonbon, for his efforts supporting the country's athletes.

He was particularly supportive during July's World Cup Team Championships in Chinese city Wuxi, where Ivory Coast won mixed bronze.

Choue has now presented Yehoulou with a World Taekwondo tie and pin badge. 

Ivory Coast is emerging as a major force in taekwondo with Cheick Sallah Cissé winning a dramatic Olympic gold medal in the men's welterweight division at Rio 2016.

Cheick Sallah Cissé is at the forefront of an Ivorian taekwondo boom ©Getty Images
Cheick Sallah Cissé is at the forefront of an Ivorian taekwondo boom ©Getty Images

Cissé defeated Britain's Lutalo Muhammad in the final seconds of the final via a head kick.

This was Ivory Coast's first Olympic gold medal, and it came on the same night that Ruth Gbagbi won bronze in the women's under-67 kilograms class.

Gbagbi went on to win World Championship gold at under-62kg in Muju in South Korea in 2017. 

Abidjan in Ivory Coast hosted the World Taekwondo Grand Prix final last year.