Russia’s honour will be defended by Alexey Denisenko of Tatarstan.

(Kazan, January 27, Tatar-inform, Yulia Revina). A  European taekwondo qualification round has today begun in Kazan. It is the first time both Kazan and Russia host such a high-profile competition in this sport, a news conference, held to mark the opening, was told.

“The fact that the tournament is held in Kazan testifies to that Kazan is not without reason called Russia’s sports capital,” Russian Taekwondo Union president Alexey Terekhov noted. World Taekwondo Federation secretary general Jin Suk Yang expressed admiration with the tournament’s organisation, saying Kazan was coping beautifully with hosting such a high-profile competition.

The competition is the last selection round before the 2012 London Olympics. The previous rounds were held in Mexico, Bangkok, Thailand and Egypt.

A total of 120 best athletes from 39 countries will vie for the title of the best, raffling two tickets to the 30th Olympic Games, this summer to take place in London. The competitions will be held in 8 Olympic categories, including men (58 kg, 68 kg, 80 kg and above 80 kg) and women (49 kg, 57 kg, 67 kg, above 70 kg).

“I have seen a high level of training of the Russian athletes at this competition,” WTF secretary general enhanced.

Russia will be represented by Kristina Kim of Moscow and Alexey Denisenko of Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan, performing in the lightest category, up to 58 kilograms.

“The European qualification round largely resembles the Olympic Games, so what you see here you will see at the Olympics,” Jin Suk Yang said, closing the news conference.

The tournament will end on 29 January. Participants will be 119 athletes from 39 countries.
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