New scoring system set to ease judging troubles
An electronic scoring system is expected to be introduced into taekwondo in 2009 to avoid judging controversies, said World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) President Choue Chung-won.
"Using an electronic scoring system is one of our efforts to improve the refereeing of the sport," Choue said during a press conference yesterday.
Refereeing has become a problem for the sport that originated from South Korea, in particular during the Beijing World Championships concluded yesterday. So far five teams have protested against the judging and launched appeals.
Choue said judging mistakes are inevitable whenever there are human referees involved.
There are five referees including one center referee in standard taekwondo games and usually the final call is unchangeable regardless of appeals.
"Such a system may help us achieve fair and open refereeing," he said.
But the president said there is no rush to use such system.
"I can't say where we are on testing the system but we won't use it unless we are sure it is 100 percent correct."
(China Daily 05/23/2007 page22)
