A senior National Poomsae team of eight athletes and two coaches from Australian Taekwondo will contest the World Poomsae Open Challenge in Muju, Korea, from November 3-5.
The competition, which was first introduced in 2021 as an online event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will see over 300 athletes from 20 countries contesting for medals and prize money in the first-time live event.
Australia has had previous success in World Poomsae Open Challenge events, with gold medals having been won by Barry Jordan NSW/ACT, Bronwyn Butterworth VIC and Carmela Hartnett WA. The group of senior athletes were selected to the National Team, based on results from the Australian Open/Oceania Open and Oceania Presidents Cup held in Brisbane earlier in the year.
The 2023 World Poomsae Open Challenge team will see the following athletes represent Australia.
O65 Female Bronwyn Butterworth – Melbourne Taekwondo Centre (VIC)
U65 Female Sylvia Chiang – Schembris Taekwondo (VIC)
U60 Female Carmela Hartnett – Taekwondo Oh Do Kwan (WA)
U50 Female Kate Hodgen – Lee’s Taekwondo (ACT)
U30 Female Tayla Eckley – City West Taekwondo (VIC)
O65 Male Barry Jordan – Eclipse Taekwondo (NSW)
U Male 65 Chiang Cheuk Hung - Schembris Taekwondo (VIC)
U40 Male Choi Min Sueng – Songs Taekwondo (VIC)
Head Coach: Ross Hartnett - Taekwondo Oh Do Kwan (WA)
Coach: Yukyung Song – Songs Taekwondo (VIC)
Australian Taekwondo wishes the team all the best for the competition.
Australia enjoyed an impressive campaign at the WT President’s Cup, with six athletes stepping onto the podium and delivering strong performances across the tournament. Winning two silver medals and four bronze, the Australian team showed its quality, resilience, marking their territory on home soil.
Australia’s para taekwondo program will be represented by two athletes on the Gold Coast this month, with Shrijana Ghising and Evie Ruffle set to contest the Australian Open, WT President’s Cup and Oceania Championships in an important competition block ahead of the Para World Championships later this year.
The Gold Coast is set to host two major World Taekwondo sparring events over one massive weekend! From proven senior campaigners to rising prospects pushing into the upper tier, here are 10 Australian athletes to watch when the action begins on the Gold Coast.
