Swiss hoping to kick their way to glory
A Swiss team has headed to the 15th world taekwondo championships in South Korea, hoping to bring back a medal.
Christina Bach came back from the last championships in Edmonton, Canada, two years ago with a bronze medal in her suitcase. This was only the second time a Swiss had finished on the podium, after Nuno Damaso’s third place in Barcelona in 1987.
Along with five of her countrymen, Bach will be hoping to do as well this time, on the island of Cheju.
The competition promises to be difficult. In the homeland of taekwondo, the Koreans will be looking to succeed at home.
Despite the worldwide popularity of the sport – 50 million athletes in 162 countries – Korea still dominates the rankings. They have won 119 titles out of 168 given out at the world championships since 1973.
Other nations have been making up lost ground since the Eighties, when international interest in the sport increased.
Taekwondo made its first appearance at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 as a demonstration sport, and became an official sport at the Sydney Games last year.
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