With the Olympic Games only weeks away, Australia's Taekwondo athletes are in the final stages of preparations before heading to Paris.
Having just returned from three training camps in Spain, France, and Italy, athletes will now focus on final training activities, including a two-week visit from five world-class Korean athletes.
Jun-Seo Bae, Hyun-woo Kim, Mireu Kang, Bo-Ra Kang and Ah-reum Lee, will visit the National Performance Centre in Melbourne between June 27 and July 9 as training partners for athletes at the NPC in the lead-up to Paris.
A local showdown between Australia and Korea is also planned, with a Fight Day organised for July 6 at the NPC, which will see Australia and Korea go head-to-head.
The day will also celebrate Olympic and Paralympic Taekwondo referees, with Nikky White and Ali Rahimi both in attendance.
The day provides an opportunity for the Australian Taekwondo community to come together and support our 2024 Olympic athletes, as well as enjoy a day experiencing the NPC and Taekwondo's high-performance program delivered by CombatAUS. All proceeds from spectator ticket sales will go directly to Taekwondo's Olympic athletes.
Doors will open at 10:00 am, and the first fight will commence at 11:00 am at the National Performance Centre, Lakeside Stadium, 31 Aughtie Dr, Albert Park VIC. Ticketed parking is available at the venue.
Tickets will be available at the door (cash only) and cost $20 per adult, $10 per child.
Meet the athletes visiting the NPC.
Jun-Seo Bae
Jun-Seo Bae is a two-time senior World Taekwondo Champion, Junior World Champion, and winner of countless international gold medals. Competing in the -58kg weight division, Jun-Seo Bae is one of the most respected fighters in the world, renowned for his attacking pressure and endurance.
SEE FIGHT HISTORY
Hyun-woo Kim
While he may not have as many accolades as some other Korean athletes, Hyun-woo Kim has proven himself on the world stage with a notable victory over Iran's top athlete, Mirhashem Hosseini. Hyun-woo has spent considerable time training with USA's Carl Alan Nickolas Jr. He competes in the -80kg division and is known for his attacking pressure and endurance.
Mireu Kang
Mireu Kang competes in the -46kg and -49kg divisions. She is a Youth Olympic Games silver medalist, Junior World Taekwondo Champion, and World Taekwondo Women's Champion and has won numerous Grand Prix medals. Kang is renowned for her clinch fighting and continuous pressure.
Bo-Ra Kang
Bo-Ra Kang competes in the -49kg and -53kg divisions and, like her sister, is known for her pressure and clinch fighting. A long-time member of the Korean National Team, Bo-Ra has won numerous international medals, including those at Grand Prix events, Open events, and Grand Slam Qualifiers.
Ah-reum Lee
Ah-reum Lee is a former World Champion, World Championship Silver medallist, Asian Games Champion, and multiple Grand Prix gold medallist. She has fought and beaten many of the athletes that will be competing at the 2024 Olympic Games. Now, as a Professional Team coach, she brings her extensive knowledge of the -57kg division to Australia.
A number of Australians took part in the World Taekwondo International Poomsae Referee course held in Malaysia late last month. The course was the first to use proposed new rules, which will be introduced at the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships later this year.
Taekwondo will be in the spotlight at the Paris Olympic Games from August 7 - 10, and thanks to television broadcasts, news outlets, radio stations, and digital media, interest in our sport and martial art is likely to increase.
Driven by a passion for martial arts and a desire for self-improvement, Yosafe Zakoulouta, club owner at Undisputed Martial Arts in Melbourne, Victoria began his journey in Taekwondo over two decades ago. That journey, according to the man himself, has been enriched with experiences ranging from local tournaments to international competitions – including being a member of Australia’s National Team for the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships.
