Para taekwondo: a Paralympic discipline structured into weight categories

From August 29 to 31, the Para taekwondo events of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will take place at the Grand Palais. Right in the heart of Paris, under the glass roof of this iconic venue, 10 medal-winning events will happen there. Introduction to this discipline, which was included in the Paralympic programme at Tokyo 2020

Usually, at the Paralympic Games, athletes compete in categories determined by their disability. T11, T63, T47 or T12 in Para athletics; WH2, SU5 or SL4 in Para badminton; H3, B, C5 or H5 in Para cycling; S8, S9, S6, S4 or S12 in Para swimming; PTS2, PTS4 or PTVI in Para triathlon. There are many different classifications for each discipline on the Paralympic programme. In Para taekwondo, in contrast, only one category is on the programme: K44, which brings together athletes with a disability in one or both upper limbs.

"It's the one that brings together the most disabilities and allows us to have the vast majority of fighters, Mehdi Bensafi, Sport Manager for Para taekwondo at Paris 2024, explains. In a nutshell, K44 is a fusion of several disabilities and allows as many people as possible to benefit from the Paralympic experience." It should be noted that the situation is different at the World Championships, as there are disability categories (from K41 to K44).

"The essence of taekwondo is preserved"

To understand the absence of disability categories in Para taekwondo, you don't have to look very far: it's consubstantial with combat sports, whether able-bodied or disabled. "It's for the same reason, says the former coach of the French Olympic team, to maintain consistency. The disability filter only comes in at a later stage."

The rules are almost identical between Olympic and Paralympic taekwondo competitions. Although the three 2-minute rounds are replaced by a single 5-minute round at the Paralympic Games, chest strikes are still the basis of the bouts. "The essence of taekwondo has been preserved. We haven't changed the discipline because of the disability, Mehdi Bensafi explains. Kicks to the face and the notion of a knockout are both banned, but that's only because para athletes, unlike the able-bodied, don't have the option of having both arms to protect themselves just in case."

Collaboration between taekwondoists and para-taekwondoists, at least in France, is going stronger and stronger. Even before Tokyo 2020, the discipline's first Paralympic Games, the able-bodied taekwondoists acted as sparring partners for the para taekwondoists. "That created a dynamic, Mehdi Bensafi recalls. Since then, there's been a real change, with Olympic athletes - like Haby Niaré, silver medallist in 2016 - training the para athletes. Obviously, this benefits to everyone."

What are France's chances?

Three para taekwondoists will defend the French colours at the Grand Palais at the end of August: Sophie Caverzan (-57 kg), Djelika Diallo (-65 kg) and the highly experienced Bopha Kong (-58 kg), multiple world gold medallist and fourth at the last Paralympic Games. "They've all put in big performances on the international circuits. If we manage to get a medal out of each athlete, it will be extremely good because we need to show that there is a real French training school in Para taekwondo, Mehdi Bensafi says. Now is the time to perform."