Welcome to 2019: Taekwondo

Athletes have one more year to accrue ranking points to qualify for taekwondo’s historic Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020. With more than a dozen tournaments offering athletes the chance to build up their rankings points before next year’s deadline, 2019 is now-or-never for fighters.

2019 World Para Taekwondo Championships

The year begins with the sport’s biggest tournament before Tokyo 2020 – the eighth World Championships in Antalya, Turkey from 5-6 February. With major rankings points on the line, every bout in the tournament will have massive implications. It is a make-or-break tournament to start the year, but for those who falter – there are ways to make it up.

Lima 2019 Parapan American Games

Forty-eight of the Americas’ top fighters will take part in the multi-sport event in Lima, Peru from 30-31 August. Besides Parapan Am glory, athletes can walk away with rankings points from the event itself.

2020 Paralympic Games Test Event

The 2020 Paralympic venue for taekwondo – Makuhari Messe – will host a Test Event on 26 September. Twelve fighters will compete in a one-day event. It will be a good opportunity for some of the top fighters to gauge themselves against each other while getting a feel for next year.

2019 Continental Championships

All five continental regions will hold Open Championships, with athletes from the host continent earning twice the ranking points. The schedule kicks off with the African Championships in Hurghada, Egypt on 20 February; followed by the Oceania Championships in Gold Coast, Australia on 28 June; and the Asian Championships in Amman, Jordan on 18 July. The European and Pan American Championships have yet to be determined.