Canada’s Anthony Cappello Wins First Career International Gold at Asian Para Championships
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July 22, 2019
Canada’s Anthony Cappello Wins First Career International Gold at Asian Para Championships
—Cappello shifts focus to Para Pan Am Games, August 30-31—
AMMAN, Jordan—Canada’s Anthony Cappello won his first career gold medal on the international stage at the Asian Para Championships in Amman, Jordan.
The 28-year-old made easy work of his final two opponents after squeaking past the opening round with a golden point. The Montreal native, who was the number two seed heading into the event, topped Kazakhstan’s Nyssanbek Aidarbekov 32-10 in the final to secure top spot on the podium.
“Placing on the podium in any international event is always a special feeling, but I’m thrilled to win the gold,” said Cappello. “I’m honoured to be able to have won for Canada.”
Cappello had to get through many of the world’s top seeds to get a spot in the final which earned him valuable world ranking points on the road to Tokyo 2020. He ousted Taipei’s Chien Chiang Chen 30-28 in the opening, quarterfinal round. Cappello won his semifinal match, 33-23 over Japan’s Kenta Awatari.
Cappello’s 61kg weight class is one of 12 divisions selected to participate in Para taekwondo’s Paralympic debut at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. The newest Paralympic sport has been experiencing rapid growth over the last two three years. With nearly 70 nations hitting the mat at the 2019 World Championships, it is nearly double the amount of countries from the last world championships.
His focus now though shifts to the Para Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru, August 30-31.
“It is always a huge honour to represent your country. There are tons of emotions running through me – I am ecstatic, nervous, honoured , and most of all ready,” said Cappello. “You train so hard to get to this moment and I just want to show what Para athletes can do in taekwondo and walk away from this competition smiling.”
Taekwondo Canada is the National Sport Governing Body for Taekwondo in Canada. We are recognized by World Taekwondo, Pan American Taekwondo Union, Sport Canada, Own the Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Taekwondo Canada sends national teams to the Olympic Games, World Taekwondo Championships, Pan Am Taekwondo Championships, Pan Am Games, World Taekwondo Junior Championships, Poomsae World Championships, Pan Am Poomsae Championships, and is also targeting the 2020 Paralympic Games.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Dornan
Taekwondo Canada
T: 403-620-8731
E-mail: cdornan@taekwondo-canada.com
