News / Sports

Iranian girls crowned in world junior taekwondo championships

Monday, 21 November 2016 10:21 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 21 November 2016 10:23 AM ]

The national Iranian girls’ taekwondo team

Young Iranian female taekwondo practitioners have put a tremendous end to their campaign at the 11th edition of the WTF World Junior Taekwondo Championships in Canada, claiming the top podium place at the conclusion of the high-status tournament.

On Sunday evening, Zahra Pouresmaeil collected the gold medal after overcoming her Taiwanese rival 5-4 in the final competition of the female over-68-kilogram weight category at the Bill Copeland Sports Center in the western Canadian city of Burnaby.

Pouresmaeil had earlier overpowered a representative from Greece (3-1) in the first round, before defeating her Spanish and South Korean opponents 6-1 and 9-6 respectively in her march to the title clash.

The Iranian girls’ outfit clinched the championship title with a total of six medals: two gold, two silvers and two bronzes, having racked up 55 points. The team’s coach Fatemeh Safarpour was named the event’s best coach.

Iranian taekwondo coach Fatemeh Safarpour (1st L)

Chinese Taipei finished in the second place with four medals: one gold and three silvers, and 55 points.

Russia snatched five medals: three silvers and two bronzes, having notched 50 points to occupy the third spot

Additionally, the national Iranian boy’s taekwondo squad finished fourth in the world championships, having struck one gold, one silver and one bronze medal and an overall of 47 points.

The national Iranian boys’ taekwondo team

The South Koreans were named the world’s top-ranked team with five gold and two bronze medals, having gained 93 points.

Russians received two gold, two silver and two bronze medals. They garnered 66 points to claim the second position.

Turks were the third finishers with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals, having scored 53 points.

The 11th edition of WTF World Junior Taekwondo Championships opened in Burnaby, Canada, on November 16 and wrapped up on November 20, 2016.

The tournament brought together 846 young male and female taekwondo fighters in addition to 458 officials from 102 countries, including Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, Cyprus, India, Iran, Mexico, Mongolia, the Philippines, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey and the United States.

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