Para-taekwondo added to Brazilian School Paralympics Program

Para-taekwondo has been added to the program for the Brazilian Paralympic Committee's (CPB) flagship tournament for children.

School Paralympics, which is open to athletes from across Brazil aged between 12 and 17, is billed as the world's largest event for school-age children with impairments.

It was first held in 2009 and has become an annual event staged at the CPB's Paralympic Training Centre in São Paulo.

Para-taekwondo's inclusion comes four years after the Brazilian Confederation of Taekwondo (CBTKD) committed to supporting the discipline.

The CBTKD highlighted the reach of the School Paralympics - it features athletes from all 26 Brazilian states, plus the Federal District - as being particularly significant.

This will enable the CBTKD to bring the sport to new places and uncovered new talents, it is hoped.

Para-taekwondo is due to make its Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 later this year.

Brazil qualified two athletes at last year's qualification tournament in Costa Rica.