[By NBC-1TV K, Y Yi] WUXI, China (August 25, 2019) - The World Taekwondo World Cup Team Championships came to an end today in an enthralling last day of the competition in Wuxi in the mixed gender team matches.

With an early withdrawal by the USA due to injury, the day offered a fantastic opportunity for the remaining seven countries: China, Cote D'ivoire, Iran, Japan, Korea, Turkey and Russia.

Hosts China conquered today’s competition with their fierce attack in all high scoring matches.

In their semi-final against Turkey, China won convincingly with a score of 83:48, before facing Iran in the finals, where they secured that ultimate top spot on the podium with an impressive 50:26 result.

The Mixed Team Gender Champions are: Pan Gao, Hao Tang, Linglong Chen and Jie Song.

Iran had secured their place in the final against Mixed Team World Cup Champions China, after meeting Russia in the semi-final and secured a marginal 41-38 win. Iran had also scored a respectable 47:13 victory against newcomers to the competition, Cote D’ivoire, who came especially from the taekwondo competitions at the African Games in Rabat which ended just two days ago. Despite their impressive lead and buildup, Iran could not overcome the strength of the hosts, who scored a tremendously high final score. Iran had to settle for silver place after Manchester 2018 Grand Prix bronze medalist (W +67kg), Pan Gao aggressively worked the matt.

For their fantastic efforts throughout the competition, Iran’s silver medal was of thanks to the following athletes: Kimia Hemati, Amir Mohammad Bakhshi, Erfan Nazemi and Kimia Alizadeh Zenoorin.

Russia obtained their semi-final spot by default after the USA had to dropout at the start of the competition. Korea and Japan also withdrew in the repechage meaning Russia took home bronze. Nonetheless, the tight score between Russia and silver medalists Iran, demonstrated that the Russia team were strong and worthy of their third placement.

Securing a credible bronze medal for their nation were: Kadyrbech Daurov, Yury Kirichenko, Arina Zhivotkova and Yulia Zaitseva.

The battle for the last remaining bronze medal was between Turkey, who beat Korea with a final score of 37:30 in the quarter-final, and Cote D’ivoire, who secured their final battle in the repechage by de facto after the early withdrawal by the USA. Turkey came out on top after they won with a staggering score of 74:28, to take the last bronze of the competition.

 The Turkish team representatives were Yunus Sari, Ayse Asma, Ikra Kayir and Hsan Can Lazoglu.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue presented the trophies and prize money alongside IOC Executive Board Member, Ser Miang Ng, and Deputy Secretary General of the Wuxi Municipal Committee, Liang Ma during the closing Award Ceremony

World Taekwondo President Choue said:

“We have seen a fantastic, action packed four days in Wuxi across both the World Cup Team Championships and the Poomsae Championships. All athletes, showcased the very best of our sport and demonstrated that taekwondo is more than a sport; it is a philosophy which teaches discipline and respect. I would like to thank the organisers for their excellent organisation and the spectators that generated a thrilling atmosphere.