The Governing Board of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) are meeting today in Sochi to decide the shortlist that will proceed to the next stage of the application process, with the announcement of the sports expected tomorrow. 

Para-taekwondo is one of nine sports and disciplines that have applied - along with badminton, powerchair football, electric wheelchair hockey, amputee football, intellectually impaired and 3x3 wheelchair basketball and blind match racing and one person multi-hull sailing events.

The sport has witnessed growth in both participation and popularity since the WTF formed the Para-taekwondo Committee in 2006.

In the last year alone, Memorandums of Understanding have been signed with the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA), the International Federation for sport for Para-athletes with an intellectual disability (INAS) and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) in order to learn from their expertise and develop the sport.

Work has also begun on creating a more sophisticated, evidence-based classification system, while a development fund has also be introduced from where National Associations can invest to raise both the resources and awareness in the sport. 

Taekwondo will be hoping to follow the path of triathlon and canoeing - both added to the Paralympic programme for Rio 2016 ©Getty Images





Speaking ahead of his visit to Sochi for the Paralympic Winter Games President Choue, who has previously told insidethegames that "if Para-taekwondo gets into the Paralympics all my dreams will have come true", hailed the progress that has been made over the last eight years.

"This has been reflected not just in the total numbers of people participating in Para-Taekwondo but also in the number of people with different disabilities and impairments participating in the sport," he said.

"At the inaugural WTF World Taekwondo Championships in 2009 we had 38 competitors from 19 countries competing just in Para-taekwondo Kyorugi.

"This year's Championships will include competition in Para-taekwondo Poomsae for athletes with an intellectual disability as well as Para-taekwondo Kyorugi and we are hoping to welcome 150 athletes from 40 countries across five continents.

"Despite these significant advancements, we recognise there is always room for improvement and we remain fully committed to making the sport as inclusive and accessible as possible.

"During our Council meeting and General Assembly in Taipei City later this month we will discuss a number of proposed amendments to the WTF Statutes designed to increase participation in Para-Taekwondo and promote the values of the IPC.

"We hope that the IPC will recognise the progress that we have made and grant us the honour of being included in the shortlist of candidate sports for the 2020 Paralympic programme."

A final decision is due to be made on the addition of new sports by the IPC in November.