Portugal at the taekwondo European Championships with “good prospects” for a medal

“Very good prospects. We are going with a very young and very motivated team. In 2024 we feel that we have a much more cohesive team, as the athletes are already starting to go to some races together. There begins to be a feeling of selection and that gives us extra motivation. We already have some experience, so we are very optimistic”, Nuno Semedo told Lusa.

Taking this into account, the director assumes that the federation would feel “satisfied in bringing at least one medal”, considering that this eventual achievement would be “very positive and worthy of the efforts of these athletes”.

“Sometimes it is a little unfair to point out which one (has the most chance of success), as it is a sport with many surprises and depends on the draw. I highlight Matilde (Ferreira), who is in the Olympic heading race, and Maisa (Monteiro), who is in Olympic hopes. But this doesn’t mean that all my chips are on them. But the math points to the athletes with the best international rankings,” she maintained.

Rui Bragança, the greatest reference in the history of the sport, with participation in the Rio2016 and Tokyo2020 Olympic Games, recently abandoned the sport, while Júlio Ferreira and Joana Cunha, who share with the Guimarães the status of Portuguese athletes with the best international results, may leave the sport. high competition equally this year.

“Even if they don’t continue, the sports community drank a lot from these athletes, we were able to learn from them, through their journey, results, through the good and less good things. It is inevitable that we will have athletes following the same path”, says Nuno Semedo.

Although Portuguese taekwondo failed to qualify for Paris2024, the director, who is serving his third and final term at PORTKD, is “confident” in the future of the sport, whether due to the quality of athletes or the transition of knowledge within the federation.

“We have a group of athletes who are trying hard so that in a short time we can put taekwondo back on track. [português] in the spotlight of international stages”, he concluded.

Joana Cunha (-57 kg), who in recent years has been the great female reference in the sport in Portugal, declined to participate, as did Manuel Martinho (-87 kg).