Paralympics 2024
Paralympics 2024: Aruna Tanwar bows out after heavy defeat in Taekwondo
India's only representation in Para-Taekwondo at Paralympics 2024, Aruna Tanwar lost in the first round of the event.
Indian para taekwondo player Aruna Tanwar ended her Paralympics 2024 campaign with a first-round defeat in the women's K 44-47kg category on Thursday.
Aruna was facing Nurcihan Ekinci of Turkey in a round of 16 contest.
Aruna was no match for her opponent from Turkey who garnered points at will in the five-minute round. Ekinci scored two points from a body kick nine times during the contest while the Indian conceded one penalty point (gam-jeom).
Aruna failed to advance to repechage as Nurcihan Ekinci lost her quarterfinal contest later.
The K44 category includes athletes with impairments in one arm above the elbow.
Para taekwondo was introduced during Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. Athletes will compete in  five separate weight categories for each gender.
In Para taekwondo, matches are held in a one-round contest, lasting up to five minutes.
The main difference from able-bodied Taekwondo is that kicks to the head and punches are not allowed because not all athletes can block similarly.
Athletes wear protective equipment and 'sensor socks', which determines if a point is scored when hitting their opponent's torso.
Athletes get two points for a regular kick, three points for a turning kick, and four points for a spinning kick.