Language
Country/Area
No result found
Para Taekwondo's competition system revealed: Why is the competition mode so unique?
With the rise of the Paralympic Games, Para Taekwondo has gradually become the focus of global sports circles. The sport is an adaptation of martial arts for athletes with disabilities and has its own unique competition format. This article will take an in-depth look at the Para Taekwondo competition system, revealing its uniqueness and the historical background behind it.
Historical BackgroundThe origins of Para Taekwondo can be traced back to 2006, when the World Taekwondo Federation (WT) established the Para Taekwondo Committee to promote and develop the sport. Initially, the sport focused on developing kyorugi for athletes with arm amputations and underdeveloped limbs.
"The first Para Taekwondo Championship was held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2009."
After years of efforts, Para Taekwondo was confirmed in 2017 to be included in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. This journey has witnessed the efforts and persistence of countless athletes and their supporters.
Game Mode and System
Para Taekwondo's competition format mainly consists of kyorugi and poomsae. These competitions not only test the athletes' skills, but also their courage and perseverance.
Kyorugi
Para Taekwondo's kick fine-tunes the rules to accommodate athletes of different protection categories. The tournament is divided into single elimination, round-robin or single elimination with replay.
"The scoring rules for effective attacks are: effective kicks to the body protector are worth two points, turning skills are worth three points, and spinning skills are worth four points."
The scoring system is designed to encourage players to be creative and use as many different tactics as possible.
Poomsae
Poomsae competitions are also unique in that athletes are required to perform specific moves in sequence within 20 to 120 seconds. The scoring criteria include technical score and performance score, with a maximum total score of 10 points, of which the technical part can get a maximum of 4 points and the performance can get 6 points.
"Poomsae competition is not only a display of skills, but also a display of the athletes' mental outlook."
Athlete Assessment and Classification
To ensure fair competition, Para Taekwondo implements an athlete evaluation system, which includes physical fitness evaluation, technical evaluation and observation evaluation. Each athlete needs to meet minimum disability standards to qualify for a Sport Class.
Competitions and Rankings
Para Taekwondo has a rich competition system, including world championships and regional competitions, and athletes are ranked accordingly based on their performance. These ranking systems are based on WT rules and take into account performance in various levels of competition.
"As of September 2023, the number of medals awarded at the World Championships has reached 458, including 139 gold medals."
These figures demonstrate the potential for Para Taekwondo and are testament to the hard work and achievements of athletes around the world.
ConclusionPara Taekwondo's competition system not only demonstrates the athletes' physical strength and strategies, but also their love and pursuit of life. The uniqueness of this sport lies in the fact that it provides equal opportunities for athletes with different physical and mental disabilities to compete and express themselves on the international stage. When we see these athletes fighting hard in the ring, can we not help but wonder what this means to their lives?
