Comparison of BMI and success performances of adolescent taekwondo players in competitions organized in terms of weight and height categories

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the BMI and success in tournaments of male and female taekwondo players in the 2019 World Taekwondo Championship and 2019 European Taekwondo President's Cup, designed according to weight categories in 10 different weights, and the 2020 Turkey International Taekwondo Open Tournament, designed according to height categories in 10 different heights. Methods: This study consisted of male and female taekwondo players between the ages of 12 and 14 who participated in the 2019 World Taekwondo Championship and 2019 European Taekwondo President's Cup, designed according to weight categories, and the 2020 Turkey International Taekwondo Open Tournament, designed according to height categories. One day before the competitions, the height and weight measurements were made and BMI values were calculated. At the 2019 World Taekwondo Championships and the 2019 European Taekwondo President's Cup, girls participated in -29, -33, -37, -41, -44, -47, -51, -55, -59, +59 kg weights and men participated in the -33, -37, -41, -45, -49, -53, -57, -61, -65, +65 kg weights. At the 2020 Turkey International Taekwondo Open Tournament, the heights were created considering height category ranges corresponding to the healthy BMI values calculated according to each weight category. Accordingly, girls participated in the competitions in 144, 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176 , +176 cm heights and men participated in the 148, 152, 156, 160, 164, 168, 172, 176, 180, +180 cm heights. Results: It was determined that men in category X, height weight was more successful than weight weight (p<0.05). The men's height weight in the categories of I, IX and X (p<0.05) and The men's weight weight in the categories of III, IV, V, VI and VII are found to be higher in terms of BMI normality (p<0.05). The women's height weight in the categories of I, II, III, IX and X (p<0.05) and The women's weight weight in the categories of VI and VII are found to be higher in terms of BMI normality (p<0.05). Conclusion: While there was no difference between the success of taekwondo players in tournaments designed according to weight and height categories, it was determined that the height category was healthier in heavy and light weights in terms of BMI normality. It has been revealed that official tournaments can be organized according to height categories.