The Pan American Taekwondo Qualification Tournament for this year’s Pan American Games was a tremendous success that defined the countries that will compete at Santiago 2023 this October.
The Olympic venue of Arena Carioca I was home to the taekwondo qualification tournament for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games that took place from March 22-23. After two incredible days of action streamed live on the Panam Sports Channel, the tournament field for this year’s Games is complete.
Athletes who competed at the Cali 2021 Junior Pan American Games in Colombia got a head start on their competition, with the gold medalists earning not only qualification for their country, but also a direct ticket to compete at Santiago 2023.
The United States and Mexico led the way by qualifying in all of the Kyorugui events as well as the individual Poomsae, mixed pairs Poomsae and Team Kyorugui events, earning multiple qualifiers in some weight classes thanks to their athletes winning at Cali 2021. These two countries earned 15 qualifications each for a total of 13 athletes who will compete at the Santiago 2023.
Athletes from Chile will also compete in every competition at Santiago 2023 because the host country earns automatic qualification.
KYORUGUI QUALIFICATION
In the men’s 58kg event, Jhon Reyes won gold at Cali 2021 for his direct qualification to Santiago 2023 where he will compete against athletes from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela, as well as a teammate from Colombia that earned a second qualifier at the tournament.
Uriel Ballesteros of Mexico won the men’s 68kg gold at Cali 2021 and will compete against athletes from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, USA and Uruguay, as well as another Mexican athlete that earned a second qualification.
Carl Nickolas Jr of the United States was champion in Colombia and in Santiago 2023 will face off against a teammate from the U.S. as well as athletes from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico.
In the heavyweight +80kg division, Dallas Parker of the U.S. earned direct qualification in Cali and will compete against Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico and Venezuela, as well as another athlete from Team USA.
On the women’s side, Mexico’s Angie Venegas won gold at Cali 2021 and at Santiago 2023 will confront athletes from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guyana, Peru, Puerto Rico, USA, Venezuela and one of her teammates from Mexico.
In the 57kg weight class, Sandy Macedo of Brazil was the Junior Pan Am Games champion who earned the right to compete against athletes from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, USA, Venezuela and a Brazilian teammate.
Leslie Soltero of Mexico won the 67kg gold at Cali 2021 and will be joined in the tournament in Chile by athletes from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru, Puerto Rico, USA, Venezuela and another Mexican.
In the women’s heavyweight division of +67kg, Alena Viana of Team USA earned direct qualification to square off against athletes from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and a U.S. teammate.
Each of the countries that qualified at least three athletes in the individual Kyorugui events also qualified for the debut of the Team Kyorugui event at the Pan American Games. This competition will feature the countries of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, USA and Venezuela.
POOMSAE QUALIFICATION
Athletes also earned qualification to the Poomsae event at Santiago 2023 at the Qualification Tournament held in Rio de Janeiro.
Two athletes from the countries of Mexico, Canada, Cuba, Ecuador, USA, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Guatemala will compete in both the individual men’s and women’s events and the mixed pairs competition.
There are just two qualifications remaining for the Poomsae event which will be distributed in a wild card fashion before the Games begin in Chile.
Congratulations to all of the athletes and countries that qualified to Santiago 2023 and thanks to all of the fans that watched the action live on the Panam Sports Channel!
