Cuba’s Elianet María Crespo added the gold medal to another won in the kyorugui in the +67 kilogram division at the Panam II U-22 Series, a qualifier for Asunción 2025.

Elianet María Crespo said goodbye to Peru with a pair of titles by winning the I Pan American Kukkiwon Taekwondo Cup Lima 2024.

The Cuban had won gold earlier in the same Videna Hall, but with the kyorugui (combat) speciality in the +67 kilogram division, Panam II U-22 Series, qualifier for the Asunción 2025 Pan American Junior Games.

Carlos Manuel Luis Robles (68 kg) also participated for the Island, who advanced to the second round, but remained there, as in the qualifying tournament for the U-22 continental event in Paraguay.

«It is a Cup sponsored by the local sports federation,» Ivan Fernandez, president of the Cuban Taekwondo Federation, told JIT.

By naming it Kukkiwon, the Peruvians honoured the World Taekwondo Academy, the headquarters of the sport.

Founded in 1972 in Seoul, South Korea, this organisation is dedicated to the dissemination, training and research of taekwondo.

The Kukkiwon is responsible for awarding official certifications for the black belt (dan) and poom (under 14 years of age) grades. It also organises seminars and leadership courses for taekwondo coaches and instructors.

«Soon we will have a specialist sent by the international federation to introduce us to much of what Kukkiwon proposes,» said the national commissioner.

One of his main functions is the creation and regulation of poomsae, sequences of movements that combine attack and defence techniques.

Poomsae is essential in the Korean martial art because it helps practitioners develop technical skills, balance, coordination and breath control.

Kukkiwon sets the standards for these imaginary combats and ensures that they are taught uniformly throughout the world.