Following a resounding success of the 1st WTF World Para-Taekwondo Championships on June 10, 2009, the 2009 WTF World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships  kicked off on June 11 for a four-day run at the Baku Sports Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The World Cup event drew a great interest from both the athletes, spectators and the global media as it featured WTF-recognized electronic protectors for the first time and an instant video replay system under a new WTF Competition Rules.

The championships attracted 23 male and 23 female teams from a total of 28 countries.
 
On the first day of the preliminary rounds, the Netherlands made a major upset by defeating the No. 2-seeded Chinese Taipei 3-2 in the men’s Group B division. Jordan kept the 1st place of the group by winning over Ukraine 4-1.

In the men’s Group F division, host Azerbaijan was defeated by Russia 3-2 in a very close match. National hero Rashad Ahmadov couldn’t save his country and Azerbaijan has to win the remaining two preliminary matches to continue its hope to advance to the quarterfinals. The match between Italy and Brazil was also very close. Italy won 3-2 mainly thanks to the last-minute 3-point head kick by Mauro Sarmiento, the Beijing Olympic Games silver medalist.

France is leading the men’s Group A division, ahead of Korea in point difference. Korea and France are scheduled to fight on June 12. The other two teams, Canada and Greece are struggling to survive in the group.

In other groups of the male division, Turkey made a huge 5-0 victory over China in Group C, while Germany and Iran easily defeated Kazakhstan and Egypt, respectively. Great Britain is leading the Group E by winning over Georgia 4-1.

In the female division, France and China are co-leaers in Group A by defeating Uzbekistan and Australia 5-0, respectively. Beijing Olympic Games bronze medalist Gwladys Epangue from France showed brilliant techniques and finished the match by K.O. In the Group A, Korea easily defeated Kazakhstan 5-0, while Russia grabbed the first win by defeating the Netherlands 3-2.

In Group C, Mexico and Turkey both recorded their first win and will meet on June 12 to determine the leader of the group. Mexico is led by Beijing Olympic Games gold medalist Maria Espinoza, while Azize Tanrikulu, the Beijing Olympic silver medalist, is the heroine of Turkey.

Spain is leading Group B with a 4-1 victory over Germany, and Italy is behind in point difference. Canada was disappointed by its 4-1 defeat to Iran in Group E, while Morocco defeated Great Britain 3-2 in the group. In Group F, Brazil won the first match.

The round-robin preliminary rounds will continue until June 13 to determine the final eight teams in the male and female division. The best national teams will be decided on June 14.

Taken from WTF website.