WUXI, China (Dec 17, 2023) - The Wuxi 2023 World Taekwondo Grand Slam Champions Series drew to a close today with the remaining four gold medals going to Individual Neutral Athletes (AINs), Azerbaijan and Iran.

 

AINs Tatiana Minina and Polina Khan won gold in the W-57kg and W+67kg respectively, Azerbaijan’s Gashim Magomedov took gold in the M-58kg and Iran’s Mehran Barkhordari was victorious in the M-80kg.

 

China finished the Grand Slam with the highest medal tally of four medals (two silver and two bronze), Korea and Iran finished second with one silver and one bronze, and one gold and one bronze respectively.

 

Tatiana Minina beat 2022 World Champion Zongshi Luo from China in the final of the W-57kg with a convincing 2:0 victory. Yu-jin Kim of Korea secured bronze as she beat AIN Margarita Blizniakova in the bronze medal match.

 

Azerbaijan’s Gashim Magomedov beat current World Champion Jun-seo Bae of Korea 2:0 in the final of the M-58kg to win gold. Kai Cheng of China won his first Grand Slam bronze as he beat Alireza Hosseinpour from Iran 2:0.

 

AIN Polina Khan won gold by overcoming previous Grand Slam Champion Shunan Xiao of China 2:1 in the final of the W+67kg.  Zeqi Zhou secured bronze after beating compatriot Wenzhe Mu 2:0 in the third place match.

 

In the M-80kg final it was a repeat of the final from the previous Grand Slam with Mehran Barkhordari facing Uzebkistan’s Jasurbek Jaysunov. This time it was Barkhordari who came out on top as he won the match 2:1. Mirhashem Hosseini made it a bronze for Iran as fellow Iranian Amir mohammad Bakhshi was forced to withdraw in the bronze medal match.

 

After the competition, the World Taekwondo officials, International Referees, team members and athletes gathered at the Wuxi Hualuxe Hotel to hold the 2023 World Taekwondo Grand Slam night of Champion Gala.