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Olympic Trials Berths and Junior Trials Qualification on the Line in San Jose Next Week
By Bill Kellick // USA Taekwondo // July 9, 2007
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Thirty-two coveted spots at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Taekwondo will be up for grabs during the U.S. Senior National Taekwondo Championships at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, Calif., July 10-11. In addition, junior-level fighters, ages 14-17, will attempt to qualify for the 2007 Junior Team Fight-Off during the Junior Olympic Taekwondo Championships, July 12-15, also held at the Convention Center’s McEnery Hall.
The Senior National Championships includes forms and sparring events for athletes 14 years of age and older. Over 660 athletes are expected to compete in the Senior National event.
The top two finishers, per gender, in each of the eight weight divisions will advance to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Taekwondo, to be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., Aug. 23-24. They will join previously qualified Trials participants – 2007 National Team members, 2007 World Championship medalists, winners of the 2007 Pan Am Games Team Trial, and the 2004 Olympic gold and silver medalists.
The four winners in each Olympic weight division at the Olympic Trials will compete at the World Olympic Qualifier in Manchester, England, Sept. 28-30, 2007, in an attempt to qualify their weight division and themselves for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Athletes can qualify with a top-three finish.
In addition to the Senior Nationals competition, over 2,400 athletes, ranging in age from 6-17, are expected to compete in the Junior Olympic Championships, held July 12-15. The event features Olympic-type sparring competition in both the Elite Open Division and the World Class Division, as well as competition in forms.
Medalists in each of the 10 14-17 year-old World Class weight divisions will advance to the Junior Team Round Robin Fight-Off to be held Aug. 25-26 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The winner of the Junior Team Fight-Off in each weight division will be named to the 2007 U.S. Junior National Team.
Tickets are available at the door the day of the event. Prices are:
Single-day - $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children
Three-day - $40 for adults and $27 for seniors and children
Four-day - $50 for adults and $34 for seniors and children
Five-day - $60 for adults and $40 for seniors and children
Six-day - $70 for adults and $45 for seniors and children
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