The fourth European U-21 Taekwondo Championships, Olympic version, will involve a record number of participants. 300 athletes from 42 European countries will compete for medals in the competition that will be hosted by Moldova for the first time. The champs will take place at the Polyvalent Hall in Chisinau on April 18-21, IPN reports.

“We bear responsibility towards the Moldovan public. It’s not easy to host such large-scale events, but we made considerable effort. We are motivated and ready for achieving results. We want at least three winning places,” Igor Iuzefovici, president of the Taekwondo WTF Federation of Moldova, told a news conference on April 17. Moldova will be represented by 13 sportspersons, with Vladislav Arventi and Andrei Rotaru considered to have the greatest chances of winning medals.

More than €200,000 was spent on the organization of the competition. “We will have a great championship with a record number of participants. I’m sure that everything will take place in the best way,” said Athanasios Pragalos, president of the European Taekwondo Union.

On the occasion of the European champs, Chisinau will also host the Assembly of the European Taekwondo Union that brings together about 400 officials.