Beijing 2008: WTF Electronic Protector Intl Taekwondo Tourney opened in Chuncheon

The WTF (World Taekwondo Federation)Electronic Protector International Taekwondo Championships kicked off for a two-day run in Chuncheon, Korea, on March 4, 2007.

The event, which took place at the Hoban Gymnasium in downtown Chuncheon, drew about 160 athletes and officials from 19 countries.

Among the participating countries and areas are China, Chinese Taipei, Egypt, France, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey and Korea.

"The electronic protector taekwondo championships are very important for the future of the WTF, as they will determine whether the electronic protector system will be adopted at the upcoming 2007 World Taekwondo Championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games," said WTF President Chungwon Choue during the opening ceremony of the championships.

Dr. Choue said, "The development of the electronic protector system opens a new chapter for the WTF, as we strive to enhance our refereeing and judging standards." "This is an endeavor that must succeed. There is no room for error."

The opening ceremony was followed by a demonstration of taekwondo practitioners with a disability, and a demonstration of competition uniforms for taekwondo poomsae.

Attending the opening ceremony of the championships were Dr. Nat Indrapana, vice president of the WTF and IOC member of Thailand, and Mr. Wu Ching Kuo, a member of the WTF's Advisory Council and IOC member of Chinese Taipei.

Among other dignitaries were Mr. Ketil Petterson, the ORIS (Olympic Results & Information System) sport analyst for taekwondo, and Mr. Cao Tao, competition manager for taekwondo of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games.

The opening day of the championships using electronic protectors featured two male and two female Olympic categories.

In the male -58kg category, Japan's Kango Uchimura won the gold medal by brushing aside a stiff challenge from Spain's Jose Lois Mendez. The bronze was shared by Egypt's Tamer Salah Ali Baumi and France's Seninor Thomas.

In the female -49kg class, Mexico's Alejandra Gaal clinched the gold in the sudden-death round by beating Korea's Jo Eun-bi. The bronze went to the Philippines' Alora Kathleen Eunice and Greece's Fotini Birba.

In the male -80kg final match, France's Lopes Jonathan needed the fourth sudden-death round to earn his country the gold medal as he outperformed Italy's Sarmiento Mauro. The bronze went to Turkey's Serdar Akin and Egypt's Adb Al-Rahman Osama Tawfik.

Turkey's Sibel Guler won the gold medal in the female -67kg final as she outpointed Korea's Kim Ji-hye 4-2. The bronze was shared by Egypt's Seham Mohamed El Sawalhy and the Philippines' Alora Kirstie Elaine.

The existing kyorugi competition rules of the WTF were applied to the electronic protector event, except some changed rules.

According to the newly applied rules are as follows: No time limit was given to the sudden-death round until any contestant scores a point. In the decision of the sudden-death round, only positive points count. The win by a 12-point ceiling was not applied this time, but the 7-point gap was applied.

In case of attacks on the front face where there are no sensors, points will be valid if two out of three referees (center referee and corner judges) give points when one of the center referee or corner judges raise an objection.

On March 3, various events, including international referee training sessions, were held in Chuncheon for the WTF Electronic Protector International Taekwondo Championships.

The referee training sessions, among others, drew great interest from participating athletes and officials.

Several countries sent their national players to Chuncheon just for monitoring the electronic protector championships.

(Credit: WTF. Click here for further information.)