[By NBC-1TV K Y Yi] The World Taekwondo Grand Prix will return to its birthplace in Manchester on October 21-23 as the world’s best Taekwondoin battle it out once again for Grand Prix glory.

A total of 256 athletes from 61 countries plus a Refugee team will compete in the three-day competition which is sure to guarantee thrilling Taekwondo. Among the competing athletes are a number of Olympic and World Champions as well as former Grand Prix medallists. Athletes will compete across eight Olympic weight categories refereed by 275 officials.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said:

“The World Taekwondo Grand Prix is all about the best fighting the best and so we are always guaranteed excellent matches and a thrilling spectacle. Manchester is a special place for Taekwondo and where the Grand Prix first began in 2013. We know that the city can host world-class Taekwondo events as we saw with the World Championships in 2019 and last year’s inclusive European Championships; we are sure this Grand Prix will be no different.”

Athletes competing in Manchester include:

·         M-58kg

o   Vito Dell'Aquila (Italy): gold medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

o   Cyrian Ravet (France): gold medallist at the Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

·         M-68kg

o   Bradley Sinden (Great Britain): silver medallist at Tokyo 2020

o   Javier Perez Polo (Spain): silver medallist at the Manchester 2019 World Championships and gold medallist at the Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

·         M-80kg

o   Simone Alessio (Italy): gold medallist at both the Roma 2022 and Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix and gold medallist at the Manchester 2019 World Championships

o   Saleh Elsharabaty (Jordan): silver medallist at Tokyo 2020

·         M+80kg

o   Rafael Alba (Cuba): two-time World Champion (Manchester 2019, Puebla 2013), bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020 and gold medallist at the Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

·         W-49kg

o   Panipak Wongpattanakit (Thailand): Olympic (Tokyo 2020) and World (Manchester 2019) Champion and gold medallist at the Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

o   Adriana Cerezo Iglesias (Spain): silver medallist at Tokyo 2020 and gold medallist at the Roma 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

·         W-57kg

o   Zongshi Luo (China): gold medallist at Moscow 2019, Roma 2022 and Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

o   Jade Jones (Great Britain): two-time Olympic Champion (London 2012 and Rio 2016) and World Champion (Manchester 2019)

·         W-67kg

o   Ruth Gbagbi (Cote d’Ivoire): gold medallist at Muju 2017 World Championships and gold medallist at the Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix

o   Lauren Williams (Great Britain): silver medallist at Tokyo 2020

·         W+67kg

o   Bianca Cook (Great Britain): three-time World Champion (Chelyabinsk 2015, Muju 2017, Manchester 2019)

o   Althéa Laurin (France): bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020 and silver medallist at Paris 2022 World Taekwondo Grand Prix