Taekwondo: Khalil claims bronze in Germany

NSWIS taekwondo athlete Safwan Khalil has impressed at the German Open in Hamburg to claim a bronze medal, his second in as many weeks. 

The result comes just over a month after Khalil was confirmed for his second Olympic Games after finishing fourth in London 2012. His selection came on the same day that training partner Hayder Shkara was selected for his first Olympics. 

Khalil commenced the -58kg class at the German Open with victories against Austrian Sandro Peer and the American Christian Liu. He then beat Russia’s Ivan Muradashvili, assuring himself of a medal. 

With a chance at the gold medal on offer, it was Poland’s Jaroslaw Mecmajer who proved too good on the day, preventing Khalil from reaching the final. 

Meanwhile Shkara bowed out of the competition in the opening rounds of his competition, as did fellow Aussie Carmen Marton. 

Marton’s sister Caroline had a mixed event with victory against Korea’s Hye-jin Jang before a loss to Turkish athlete Durdane Altunel. 

The Marton sisters are one of five sets of siblings who have qualified for the Australian Olympic team to date and join Khalil and Shkara in a four-strong NSWIS representation on the Australian Olympic Team for Taekwondo.