In the blink of an eye, there it is. A kick to the head that, as a spectator sitting back in the stands, you almost missed. That was a crucial three points for your player and now she takes the lead! This is the lightening fast excitement of WTF Taekwondo. But wait… the judges haven’t awarded the score. The competitors’ protective vests are wired to detect contact but not the headgear, so it’s still human beings that make the call. For those high scoring head kicks must you simply accept the decision of the official? Until 2009, that was the case but then the World Taekwondo Federation brought Dartfish instant replay into all major championships and with it the power of appeal was granted to players and coaches. That’s what happens on this occasion – the player appeals and her coach indicates agreement by raising a blue card. Dartfish technology…
