Napier's Tupuna Rangi won three golds at the Special Needs Taekwon-Do International World Championships in individual patterns, team patterns and power breaking in Napier. Photo / Chris Kiely
Napier's Tupuna Rangi won three golds at the Special Needs Taekwon-Do International World Championships in individual patterns, team patterns and power breaking in Napier. Photo / Chris Kiely
New Zealand was crowned the overall winners of the Special Needs Taekwon-Do International (SNTI) World Championship results via livestream last night.
The championships were hosted by the Pettigrew Green Arena in Napier virtually – with athletes sending in videos of them competing – back in November.
On Tuesday evening itwas announced that the athletes from Aotearoa had dominated the competition, winning 14 gold medals, eight silver and 12 bronze.
Hawke's Bay's Tupuna Rangi won three gold medals for his country in the individual section, team sections and power breaking.
There were a total of 12 countries involved with 76 athletes from Australia, England, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Malaysia, Mozambique, Norway, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa and the USA.
SNTI president Ben Evans said he was pleased to see the competitors' persistence to continue training in the sport and competing on the virtual platform, despite Covid-19's worldwide restrictions.
"Taekwon-Do means and is everything to the special needs athletes," he said, "with them competing and seeing others around the world, it brings them happiness and pride - the medal is a bonus."
Ben Evans videoing Tupuna Rangi and Aidan McCance for the virtual World Championships at the NZ ITF Taekwon-Do Training Centre in Hastings. Photo / Warren Buckland
Evans said the federation wasn't expecting such a big international turnout.
"The entries received have been quite overwhelming as SNTI was not sure how many would be in the position to take part due to tough restrictions in their countries," he said.
Competitors had to submit performance videos across a number of categories: individual patterns, team patterns, power breaking, creative breaking, jumping high kick and unified abilities.
Australia were the nation placed second overall with five golds, two silvers and two bronze medals, followed by Greece in third, Russia in fourth and the USA in fifth.
Evans said many members of the SNTI and their families were waiting patiently last night to finally find out the results of November's competition.
A total of 39 special needs athletes representing New Zealand took part in the championships - many of them attend Evans' Taekwon-Do HQ in Hastings.
"Although Covid-19 may have affected the travel options, it hasn't affected the spirit of the special needs," Evans added. "I am very proud of them all."
The SNTI president said there were plans to have the 2021 World Championships in Netherlands, but due to Covid-19, it was decided to cancel for safety concerns and uncertainty.
