“With the 3rd place in the World, we proved that we are firmly among the top powers”

“Greece, by winning the 3rd place in the World, confirmed the great rise of ITF taekwondo in our country and we proved that we are now firmly among the leading forces of the sport worldwide.

In April we came 1st for the second year in a row in Europe and now we came 3rd in the World, for the first time in history and in fact in the strongest and most difficult event that has taken place to date, since four World championships, Men’s-Women’s, Young Men’s were held together -Young Women, Adolescents and Veterans”.

The Vice-President of the European Taekwondo Federation ITF and President T.E. of A.O.T.E. Tasos Valasiadiswent on to talk about her great looks and 3rd place in the World of our National teams, in 4 singles Worldwide ITF Taekwondo Championshipwhich took place in Kazakhstan:

“A great distinction for our country. All the great powers of the sport were in Astana. We knew that Korea would take 1st place. But our athletes played the Koreans straight, we also had victories at the individual level and we even managed to qualify for the final, in the Men’s-Women’s team, narrowly losing in overtime! Victory we had against Korea in the 2019 World Cup.

Russia finished in 2nd place, returning after its absence due to the war with Ukraine. A powerful team with which we are constantly closing the gap between us.

We stole the show at the World Cup. We got a lot of congratulations and showed that the young kids who are following the younger age groups have a lot of future because they also did very well.”

They also spoke about the World Championship and the great performance and 3rd place in the World:

Michalis PainterPresident of the Hellenic Federation-AOTE, stated:

“We are all excited by the end result. 3rd place in the world is a huge success for Greece and the best reward for the painstaking and hard work of all ITF taekwondo people.

Because of the Russo-Ukraine War, it was a very difficult trip-mission that was crowned with complete success.

With our appearance in Astana, we proved that the cooperation of the Federation with the Unions, the coaches and the athletes is at the best possible level”.

Anastasia DovaCoach of the National team, said:

“Excellent performance by all the children, in a very high level and extremely difficult event. They all deserve many congratulations. And to our experienced athletes, but also to the new blood, who proved that the hard work done in the clubs pays off.

There is great cooperation from everyone, from the athletes, the coaches, the unions and the Federation. The 3rd place in the World shows that the efforts of all of us are paying off”.

Anna-Maria GardenerWorld Champion athlete, said:

“An ideal event for me, since it was my last. A gold, a silver and a bronze medal, in a World Championship, is really a great finale to my career.

Our national team proved in yet another event that it belongs to the top forces of ITF taekwondo. We, the older athletes, as well as the children who follow, have great potential and show it in all the major competitions.

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Greece in Astana (Kazakhstan), from 22-27/08/2023, competed against all the behemoths of the world, in ITF Taekwondo, occupying the 3rd place in the 2023 ITF World Taekwon-Do Championships Men – Women, Young Men – Young Women, Teens – Teens and Veterans.

Greece finished the tournament with 84 medals in the total, 14 gold, 26 silver and 44 coppercontinuing the tradition he has created in recent years by climbing to the podium, in all the World and European Championships.

The first place in the world was won by Popular Democracy her Northern Korea with 83 medals (53 gold, 21 silver, 9 bronze), followed in second place by Russia with 125 medals (28-39-58) and in the third n Hellas (84).