2024 World Taekwondo European Qualification Tournament: Preview, schedule and how to watch live on Olympics.com
Bulgaria hosts the two-day event from 9-10 March 2024, with the tournament serving as the last possibility for European athletes to earn a quota spot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Here’s a guide to the event in Sofia, which will be streamed live exclusively on the Olympic Channel.
Taekwondo
European taekwondo athletes have one last chance to earn quota spots for Paris 2024 Olympic Games across eight weight classes on 9 and 10 March at the European Qualification Tournament in Sofia.
Leading continental stars including world champions Luana Marton and Marko Golubic, as well as European gold medallists Serbian Stefan Takov, Spaniard Cecilia Castro and Refugee Athletes Dina Pouryounes and Kimia Alizadeh, are expected to feature at the European Qualifiers.
Here is our ultimate guide to everything you need to know about the final #RoadToParis2024 for taekwondo, which you can watch exclusively on Olympics.com or the Olympics app.
Stars to watch at European Qualification Tournament for Paris 2024
As per the qualification system for Paris 2024, the top two ranked men and women athletes of each weight category from Europe will qualify their NOC for the Olympic Games from the continental qualification tournament, meaning eight men and eight women have a chance to book their spots in Sofia.
The women’s under 57kg category is expected to be one of the most competitive at the qualification event. The 24 athletes entered in this class include Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Tatiana Minina, an individual Neutral Athlete, as well as the bronze medallist from the last Games Kimia Alizadeh.
The 2023 European junior champion, Serbian Ela Maric, will also be seeking a ticket to her first Olympics.
Reigning world champion Marko Golubic of Croatia has been drawn in a loaded men’s -68kg field, which also features European Games silver medallist Imran Ozkaya of Germany and Hungarian Levente Josza, the winner of the 2023 Grand Prix final in Manchester.
Also, worth keeping an eye on the men’s 74 kg category, where two-time world medallist Stefan Takov of Serbia hopes to secure a spot in the men's -80 kg, while Polish Olympian Aleksandra Kowalczuk leads the women’s 67kg class.
Dina Pouryounes, Kimia Alizadeh are among seven athletes from the Refugee Athlete team looking to boost their qualification chances from the Continental Qualification Tournament.
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
Schedule of competition at the 2024 World Taekwondo European Qualification Tournament in Sofia
(all times Bulgaria Time, CEST+1, UTC+2)
9 March
- 9:00 – 13:00 – men’s -80kg, men’s +80kg, women’s -49kg, women’s-57kg
- 15:00 – 17:00 – Quarterfinals: men’s -80kg, men’s +80kg, women’s -49kg, women’s-57kg
- 17:30 – 19:30 – Semifinals: men’s -80kg, men’s +80kg, women’s -49kg, women’s-57kg
- 19:30 – 20:30 –Bronze medal contests
10 March
- 9:00 – 13:00 – men’s –58kg, men’s-68kg, women’s -67kg, women’s +67kg
- 15:00 – 17:00 – Quarterfinals: men’s –58kg, men’s-68kg, women’s -67kg, women’s +67kg
- 17:30 – 19:30 – Semifinals men’s –58kg, men’s-68kg, women’s -67kg, women’s +67kg
- 19:30 – 20:30 – Bronze medal contests
How to watch 2024 World Taekwondo European Qualification Tournament in Sofia schedule of competition
You can catch action from the 2024 World Taekwondo European Qualification Tournament live on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com here.