Taekwondo attempts to pep up image
China’s Wu toughest opponent for Panipak
RIO DE JANEIRO: Taekwondo’s battle for relevance at the Olympics continues at the Rio Games, with tournament organisers introducing coloured pants and a mixed martial arts flavour in a bid to spice up the competition.
The sport, which made its Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games, is assured of its place until Tokyo 2020 but is feeling the heat to modernise as the International Olympic Committee looks to appeal to a younger demographic.
Taekwondo is far from a blood sport but appears to have taken a cue from mixed martial arts by changing its square fighting mat to an octagon, the shape of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s cage.
Competitors will also be allowed to wear coloured pants with their national flags at the Aug 17-20 taekwondo tournament at the Carioca Arena 3, which may upset purists accustomed to the starched-white trousers of Olympics past.
The 2016 Games open on Friday and end on Aug 21.
“The introduction of coloured pants for athletes will transform the look of competition, adding to the vibrant, carnival atmosphere in Rio, and will give athletes an even greater sense of national pride as they compete for their countries,” World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) president Choue Chung-Won said.
The WTF has had its critics in the past for being aloof and reactive but earned praise at London for introducing a new scoring system and instant video reviews which banished much of the refereeing controversy that blighted previous tournaments.
In Rio, fighters will now be fitted with electric sensors in their protective head gear to help referees detect scoring shots, adding to the torso sensors introduced at London.
Competitors will also enter the arena to theme music of their choice, adding a bit of theatre to a discipline which has its origins in ancient Korean martial arts.
The improved scoring system at London saw all eight titles go to different nations and the field is expected to be wide open again.
Chinese double Olympic champion Wu Jingyu will bid for a hat-trick of golds in the women’s 49kg flyweight division.
In the final, world No.1 Wu could face No.2 Panipak Wongpattanakit, who will be trying to become the first Thai taekwondo fighter to win an Olympic gold medal.
The Thai teenager is seen as the country’s best hope in taekwondo at the Rio Games.
Following last week’s draw, Panipak should have few problems against Maria Andrade of Cape Verde in the opening round (last 16).
Panipak is slated to meet two-time world champion Kim So-Hui of South Korea in the quarter-finals.
Seventh seed Kim won the world titles in 2011 and 2013 and was the gold medallist at the 2014 Asian Games on home soil with all those victories coming in the 46kg division.
The Thai could meet 2012 London Games bronze medallist Lucija Zaninovic of Croatia in the semi-finals.
Panipak won gold in the 46kg class at the 2014 Youth Olympics and the 2015 World Championships.
She has also claimed the 2014 and 2016 Asian titles, both in the 49kg division.
The Taekwondo Association of Thailand picked Panipak ahead of London Games bronze medallist Chanatip Sonkham because of her physical advantage and recent form.
Association president Pimol Srivikorn is confident that Panipak will reach the final and meet Wu.
“I think Panipak will meet Wu in the final,” he said.
Although the Chinese has beaten Panipak, Pimol said it will be different if they meet in the Rio final.
“We have studied Wu’s style and believe Panipak can beat her,” said Pimol.
Thailand have won one silver and two bronze medals in taekwondo at the Olympics — all in the women’s 49kg class.
The other two Thai fighters in Rio will be Tawin Hanprab (men’s 58kg) and Phannapa Harnsujin (women’s 57kg).
Panipak and Tawin will fight on Aug 17, while Phannapa will be in action on Aug 18.
The Thai squad visited several sacred places including the Bangkok City Pillar Shrine to seek devine help.
In other divisions in Rio, South Korea’s Oh Hye-Ri is under pressure to continue the country’s reign over the 67kg category which was won by Hwang Kyung-Seon at London and Beijing.
The men’s heavyweight 80kg category also offers plenty of intrigue.
England-born former world No.1 Aaron Cook, who was controversially omitted from Team GB at the London Games, will compete under the Moldovan flag at Rio, with top-ranked Iranian Mahdi Khodabakhshi being the other strong medal contender.