The Seventh World Junior Taekwondo Championships will take place in Turkey's western province of Izmir between May 7 to May 11, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Monday.

About 795 taekwondo competitors from 84 countries will compete in western Turkish province of Izmir.

President of the World Taekwondo Federation, Chungwon Choue, said in a press conference on Monday in Izmir that "the championships in Izmir will be attended by 1,053 taekwondo competitors and trainers. We are very close to the Olympic Games in Beijing," adding that Turkey is one of the eight countries worldwide that will attend the Beijing Olympics with four taekwondo competitors.

"I am confident that Turkey will win several medals. Turkey has gone a long way in taekwondo and the world knows it," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2008)