Excitement is brewing as the World Taekwondo Asian Qualification Tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympics is all set to commence in Tai’an, the People’s Republic of China, on Friday and Saturday. This event promises high-octane action as athletes vie for coveted spots in the upcoming Olympics.
A total of 16 quotas in taekwondo for the Paris 2024 Olympics will be up for grabs, with finalists in each of the four men’s and four women’s weight divisions securing berths for their respective countries. Among the competitors, four Indian athletes are set to represent their nation on the global stage.
Leading India’s challenge in the women’s categories are Margarette Maria, a seasoned taekwondo athlete who represented India at the Asian Games last year, and Sania Khan. Margarette Maria will compete in the over 67kg weight division, while Sania Khan will fight in the under 57kg category. In the men’s divisions, Akshay Hooda (under 80kg) and Aman Kumar (under 67kg) will aim to make their mark.
Notably, taekwondo first featured as an Olympic medal event during the Sydney 2000 Summer Games, and no Indian athlete has yet represented the country in this sport at the Olympics.
In addition to the Olympic qualification, the World Taekwondo Asian Qualification Tournament also offers quotas for the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Representing India in the para-athlete category are Aruna Tanwar (under 47kg), Muskan (under 52kg), A Linciya (under 65kg) in the women’s divisions, and Sadham Hussain (under 63kg) in the men’s event.
