Cuban Rafael Alba wins Taekwondo Grand Prix of Paris

Havana, September 4 (RHC)-- Cuban Rafael Alba, two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, won Sunday's World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Paris, a competition that awards points for qualification to the 2024 Olympics in the French capital.

The Santiago native over 80 kilograms defeated Croatian Ivan Sapina in the gold medal in three rounds (2-1), by scores of 4-0, 4-5 and 7-2, according to the live television broadcast of World Taekwondo, the governing organization of the sport.

To reach the final, Alba overcame 2-0 in a spectacular semifinal against the Olympic champion of Rio de Janeiro 2016, Cheick Sallah Cissé, from Ivory Coast.

Before that, the Cuban champion dominated Croatian Pasko Bozic and Norwegian Milos Pilipovic 2-0 and Moroccan Ayoub Bassel 2-1.