[By NBC-1TV K, Y Yi] ROMA, Italy (Jun 7, 2023) - The world’s best Taekwondo athletes do not have long to wait before they have the chance to test themselves at the highest level once again with the Roma 2023 World Taekwondo Grand Prix set to kick off this Friday (9 June). 

A total of 253 of the highest ranked athletes from 55 countries plus Refugee team are set to compete in the three-day competition which comes less than a week after the conclusion of the Baku 2023 World Taekwondo Championships. Athletes will compete across four male and four female weight categories in a best of three format as they aim for gold and vital ranking points for Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The athlete roster includes a host of recently crowned World Champions such as Simone Alessio of Italy (M-80kg), Bradley Sinden of Great Britain (M-68kg), 

Turkish trio Hakan Recber (M-68kg) Merve Dincel (W-49kg), and Nafia Kus (W+67kg), French duo Magda Wiet Henin (W-67kg) and Althea Laurin (W+67kg), Croatia’s Lena Stojkovic (W-46kg), Junseo Bae of Korea (M-58kg), Cheick Sallah Cisse (M+87kg) and Nahid Kiyanichandeh of Iran (W-53kg).

The World Champions will be heading into Rome high on confidence but many will be competing at different weights from Baku and will be aware there are many Olympic medallists and former World Champions and Grand Prix winners ready to challenge them. 

Among those who missed out on gold in Baku and will be looking to better their performances in Rome will be Olympic champions and medallists Tunisia’s Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi (M-58kg), Ulugbek Rashitov of Uzbekistan (M-68kg), Seif Eissa of Egypt (M-80kg) Saleh Elsharabaty of Jordan (M-80kg), Panipak Wongpattanakit of Thailand (W-49kg), Adriana Cerezo Iglesias of Spain (W-49kg), Zongshi Luo of China (W-57kg) and Bianca Cook of Great Britain (W+67kg). 

Speaking ahead of the Roma 2023 Grand Prix, World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said:

“We are privileged to be able to enjoy another world-class Taekwondo competition so soon after Baku. With more Olympic ranking points on offer and the motivation to equal or improve on their performances at the World Championships, I have no doubt that the athletes will put on a thrilling spectacle in Rome.

“The Roma Grand Prix has been a tradition for years in the World Taekwondo calendar. Over the years, it has been the benchmark of excellence and excitement, and through other activities organised by the Italian Taekwondo Federation for spectators and youth, it is also one of the most inclusive events.”