Australian Taekwondo have announced Safwan Khalil as their sole "podium ready" competitor ©Getty Images

Australian Taekwondo have announced Safwan Khalil as their sole "podium ready" competitor after an athlete categorisation process. 

The 32-year-old is a double Olympian having represented his country at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

He also won the Universiade title at flyweight in 2011 and the Pacific Games gold medal in the same weight division in 2015.

Athlete categorisation is an "Australian sport system-wide framework" for categorising athletes in an attempt to provide consistency across sports.

The aim is to subsequently support "Australia's best current and future medal prospects at Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games level". 

Safwan Khalil has competed at two Olympic Games ©Getty Images
Safwan Khalil has competed at two Olympic Games ©Getty Images

To be classified as "podium ready" in taekwondo, an athlete needs to have finished between fifth and eighth at a Senior World Championship or between fourth and eighth at a Grand Prix Final.

Podium ready is one step down from the top tier "podium" status.

Australian Taekwondo have also announced Bailey Lewis and Jack Marton as being at "podium potential" level.

A further 21 athletes have been classed in the "developing", "emerging" and "international" categories.

The next round of athlete categorisations will be in November.