The final Taekwondo places at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be confirmed at the Asian Qualification Tournaments in Amman, Jordan on 21-23 May.

 

The Qualification Tournament for the Olympic Games takes place on 21-22 May with the tournament for the Paralympic Games following on 23 May. In both instances, Asia’s best Taekwondo and Para Taekwondo athletes, who have yet to qualify, will be hoping to claim the last remaining Olympic and Paralympic places on offer.

 

A total of 84 athletes representing 28 countries and the refugee team have registered for the Qualification Tournament for the Olympic Games. The two-day competition will be overseen by 133 officials and comprise matches in the eight Olympic weight categories – W-49kg, W-57kg, W-67kg, W+67kg, M-58kg, M-68kg, M-80kg and M+80kg. The winners in each weight category will secure their National Olympic Committee (NOC) a place at the Games.

 

Among the athletes to watch will be Wael Al Farraj who lives in the Azraq Camp in Jordan and will represent the refugee team in the M-80kg category. Born originally in Syria, Al Farraj became the first refugee to graduate to black belt in the Humanitarian Taekwondo Center in 2017.

 

In the Qualification Tournament for the Paralympic Games, 26 athletes from 12 countries have registered across the K44(K43) weight categories – W-49kg, W-58kg, W+58kg, M-61kg, M-75kg and M+75kg. A total of 39 officials will referee the one day event with the winner in each category securing their NPCs’ place at the Games.