The national para taekwondo team returned to CNAR with new talents after completing a successful cycle with medals in Paris 2024, Santiago 2023, and Veracruz 2023. They plan to compete in the 2025 World Championship.
The national para taekwondo team resumed training at the National Center for Sports Talent Development and High Performance (CNAR), now integrating new athletes after closing the previous cycle with two medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
“We have a team with both experience and youth, so they are coming together to work as one. They are going through a general phase at the end of the year to leave behind the Paralympic Games in Paris, motivate themselves, get to know each other, and build unity so that next year we can start working more firmly,” said national coach Jannet Alegría Peña in an interview with CONADE (National Commission for Physical Culture and Sports).
The Mexican team had an outstanding performance in the recent Paralympic cycle, earning nine medals (two gold, five silver, and two bronze) at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, three medals (gold, silver, and bronze) at the Veracruz 2023 World Championship, and two more (gold and silver) at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
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“The most important event we have next year is the World Championship, which will take place between October and November. It is a fundamental event where we aim to have several para taekwondo athletes on the podium. We hope for a comeback from Luis Mario, who narrowly missed a medal at Veracruz 2023. We want him on the podium next year, alongside Claudia Romero, Fernanda Vargas, and Jessica García. We also hope for success from new athletes joining the team. They have roughly 10 or 12 months to prepare and achieve great results,” Jannet Alegría emphasized.
The coach, recognized as the best para taekwondo coach by the Pan American Taekwondo Union, announced the addition of five new young athletes aged 14 to 17.
“This truly fills us with joy. These youngsters will compete at the Brazil Open in April to qualify,” said the coach, who shares leadership responsibilities with triple Olympic medalist María Espinoza.
Finally, Alegría expressed her gratitude for the support of the national para taekwondo team. “We want to thank everyone who supported us during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. It was incredibly motivating.”
