On the Scene: World Taekwondo Fed Returns Choue to Presidency

(ATR) Reformer president Chungwon Choue is decisively re-elected to a new term at the World Taekwondo Federation General Assembly in Copenhagen.

The vote was 104 for Choue, 45 for challenger Nat Indrapana, a WTF vice president and IOC member from Thailand.

Both men embraced each other after the election, which had grown contentious in the final weeks leading to the vote. At one time four candidates sought the WTF post, but just Choue and Indrapana remained in the contest until Tuesday's ballot.

“I think every member of the taekwondo family, they want to continue our reform and transparency in everything, administration and refereeing, and also internationalizing our WTF,” Choue told Around the Rings following the vote.

Choue, a professor of physical education specializing in taekwondo, has served as president since 2004, when his predecessor Un Yong Kim resigned in the wake of a scandal over misuse of WTF funds. Kim received a jail term by a Korean court. Kim, at one time a powerful IOC member, also resigned from the IOC in 2005 rather than face an expulsion vote.

Choue’s victory is considered a repudiation of Kim’s attempts to influence the WTF election. He is believed to have been working to unseat Choue. Choue has said he was not aware of such machinations by Kim, who founded the international federation more than 20 years ago.

Choue says the election will help provide “stability, unity and harmony of the world taekwondo family”.

Choue says he plans to consult with Indrapana as he sets the agenda for his next four years in office.

“We accept his proposal and ideas. Maybe after some days later I will talk with him to work him together for the future,” said Choue.

“We have to continue reforming updating and working together. We have a responsibility to bring out taekwondo’s true potential as an international sport,” said Choue in his campaign speech.

One of more than 60 applicants for a seat on the IOC, Choue says he hopes this election makes it possible for him to receive a nomination. Of the 28 Summer Olympic federations, taekwondo is one of 15 which are not represented with IOC membership.

Choue told delgates at the WTF meeting that the federation faces a strong future, confirmed as a core sport through the 2016 Olympics.

“The evaluation made by the IOC was quite impressive,” says Choue about the report of the IOC Program Commission that recommended taekwondo for the 2016 program.

“With continued progress I am confident that not only can taekwondo become firmly part of the Olympics, it can be a model for other sports,” he said.

While taekwondo is confirmed for 2016, the entire program for the 2020 Olympics will be reviewed in 2013, when the number of core sports will be cut from 26 to 25.

The elections for the WTF leadership took place on the eve of the world championships in Copenhagen.

Competitors from more than 140 countries will take part in event, which runs from Oct. 14 to 18. The championships are the first to use electronic scoring vests and video replay to help ensure fair results.

Written by Ed Hula III and Ed Hula.