Tunisia's national taekwondo team will participate in the Grand Prix in Paris from October 8 to 11, with three athletes: Mohamed Mtaz El Aifawi, Shimaa Tomi, and Wafa Masgouni. According to Mohamed Ali Rouahi, technical director of the Tunisian Taekwondo Federation, the team is determined to achieve a positive result and gain as many points as possible to improve their global and Olympic rankings.
The three Tunisian athletes will compete in different weight categories: Mtaz El Aifawi in the over 87 kg category, Shimaa Tomi in the under 57 kg category, and Wafa Masgouni in the under 67 kg category. The winner of each weight category will receive 60 points, which will help them improve their rankings. Rouahi emphasized that the team's chances of going far in the competition are high, especially after their positive performance in the Mediterranean Games in Taranto 2026.
The Tunisian team will conclude their preparations in Tunisia on Saturday and travel to France on Sunday for a final training session before the competition. Their first match is scheduled for Thursday, October 8. Rouahi expressed confidence in the team's abilities, citing their recent achievements in the Mediterranean Games, where four out of eight Tunisian athletes won medals, including Wafa Masgouni, who won a silver medal, and Shimaa Tomi, who won a bronze medal.
After the Grand Prix in Paris, the Tunisian team will participate in other competitions, including the African Union prize, worth 30 points, and the African Solidarity Games, worth 20 points, scheduled for early December in Brazzaville. These competitions are part of the team's preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Rouahi noted that the qualification process for the Olympics is long and will not be decided until June 2028.
The International Taekwondo Federation allows each national Olympic committee to participate with a maximum of eight athletes, divided equally between men and women. The qualification process for the Olympics includes several methods, including the global Olympic ranking, the Grand Slam series, and continental qualifying tournaments. The top five athletes in each weight category, according to the global ranking, will qualify for the Olympics.
The Olympic weights for men are under 58 kg, under 68 kg, under 80 kg, and over 80 kg, while for women, they are under 49 kg, under 57 kg, under 67 kg, and over 67 kg. Rouahi emphasized that the team's goal is to achieve a positive result in the Grand Prix and gain as many points as possible to improve their rankings.
The Grand Prix in Paris is an important competition for the Tunisian team, as it will help them prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With a strong team and a determined spirit, Tunisia is ready to make its mark in the competition. The team's performance in the Grand Prix will be crucial in determining their chances of qualifying for the Olympics.
Key points
- Tunisia will be represented by three athletes at the Grand Prix in Paris.
- The team's goal is to achieve a positive result and gain as many points as possible to improve their global and Olympic rankings.
- The qualification process for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will not be decided until June 2028.
