Choue re-elected as World Taekwondo Federation President

By Emily Goddard

July 15 - Chungwon Choue has been re-elected to serve a fourth four-year term as President of the World Taekwondo Federation at the organisation's general assembly in Puebla.

The 65-year-old South Korean held on to his seat at the top of the sport's world governing body unopposed after his only challenger Hong Moon-Jong, a member of South Korea's National Assembly, pulled out of the race for the position last week, despite controversially calling for a "single candidacy" ? that would have seen Choue to step aside to give him a free run at the Presidency ? earlier this year.

Although he ultimately ended up being the only Presidential candidate, Choue still asked the assembly to cast their votes rather than award him the position by default.

"I ask you to confirm me to remain in this position," Choue had said ahead of the election.

"Our organisation has grown too great to expect anything less."

Choue was first elected in 2004 when he replaced the controversial Kim Un-Yong after he was arrested on embezzlement and bribery charges in South Korea, which ultimately led to him being expelled from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Choue completed the year that Kim had left on his term and was re-elected in 2005 for a four-year mandate, and then another one in 2009.

Under Choue, taekwondo has grown to become a more global sport, evidenced in the retention of its place among the Olympic core sports after Rio 2016 having initially been believed to have been under serious threat.

Electronic protective vests and socks for scoring, along with instant video replays, helping eliminate the judging controversies which had overshadowed the tournament at Beijing in 2008, are just some of the innovations that have been adopted under Choue's leadership.

The scoring system was also changed ahead of the London 2012 Olympics, with fighters earning a maximum four points for a turning kick to the head, compared to a maximum two points for a kick to the head in Beijing.

The new scoring system left the competition wide open and led to some high-scoring bouts and come-from-behind victories as the eight gold medals in London were shared by eight different countries, making the sport one of the most universal on the Olympic programme.

Also elected as today's general assembly were 14 council members ? 11 of which were re-elections ? for four-year terms.

The three new members come from Mexico, Korea and Jordan.

The WTF general assembly took place as Chouewelcomed 1,500 athletes from 136 nations to the Mexican state to compete in the 2013 World Taekwondo Championships, which run until July 21.

"It is so fitting that we hold the first championships after the London Olympics here in Puebla to set a new standard for our sport," Choue told the 6,500 capacity crowd at the Centro Expositor of Puebla stadium.

"If you look around, you will see that Puebla is the new standard."

The championships will see three sessions take place each day and will be broadcast throughout 62 countries across the globe.

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Source: http://www.insidethegames.biz/sports/summer/taekwondo/1015096-choue-re-elected-as-world-taekwondo-federation-president

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