The conclusion of the Taekwondo competition at the 20th Mediterranean Games Taranto 2026 brought recognition not only to the athletes, but also to the institutional and technical work that supported the event in Massafra, Italy.

Driss El Hilali, President of the Mediterranean Taekwondo Union and Vice President of World Taekwondo, highlighted the leadership of three central figures: WT President Chungwon Choue, Technical Delegate Mohamed Shaaban and Italian Taekwondo Federation President Angelo Cito.

Chungwon Choue’s Presence in Taranto

El Hilali expressed his appreciation to the World Taekwondo President for personally attending the competition, which brought together representatives from Mediterranean countries across Europe, Africa and Asia.

“His presence in Taranto was a strong symbol of the importance that World Taekwondo attaches to the Mediterranean Games,” El Hilali stated.

Choue attended the matches at the Giovanni Paolo II Sports Hall, providing significant institutional support to a competition registered as a G-1 event for the World Ranking.

According to El Hilali, his presence also reflected World Taekwondo’s continued leadership, support and commitment to the Mediterranean Taekwondo community.

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Mohamed Shaaban’s Technical Leadership

The WT Vice President dedicated special recognition to Technical Delegate Mohamed Shaaban, whose work he described as essential to the successful delivery of the tournament.

El Hilali highlighted Shaaban’s commitment, constant presence, attention to technical details, availability and sense of responsibility throughout the two days of competition.

“His unwavering dedication played an essential role in ensuring the smooth and successful conduct of the Taekwondo competition,” he said.

Shaaban held responsibility for one of the event’s most sensitive areas, overseeing compliance with technical procedures and coordinating the different operational components of the competition.

Angelo Cito’s Organizational Commitment

El Hilali also recognized Angelo Cito, President of the Italian Taekwondo Federation, for his commitment and cooperation with the organization.

“His support and collaboration contributed greatly to the success of this important occasion,” he stated.

Italy hosted another major international Taekwondo competition only a few months after staging the World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Rome, further demonstrating its organizational capacity and position within the international calendar.

A Competition Supported by Strong Institutional Coordination

The Taranto 2026 Taekwondo competition took place on August 22–23, featuring all eight Olympic Kyorugi weight divisions and 110 registered athletes.

Türkiye topped the medal table with five titles, while Morocco, Tunisia and France also claimed gold medals.

Beyond the sporting results, El Hilali emphasized the contribution of athletes, coaches, referees, officials, technical delegates and organizers, whom he regarded as essential to the success of the event.

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His assessment followed the same direction he outlined earlier this year in an exclusive interview with MASTKD, when he stressed the need to strengthen coordination among the different actors within the international structure to support Taekwondo’s continued evolution.

Taranto 2026 once again demonstrated that sporting development also depends on strong institutional leadership, technical expertise and cooperation among the organizations that make up the global Taekwondo community.

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