Pita Taufatofua will compete at Tokyo 2020 after winning his qualifier ©World Taekwondo

Tonga’s Pita Taufatofua booked his place at a third consecutive Olympic Games after winning his bout at the Oceania Taekwondo qualification tournament in Gold Coast.

Taufatofua earned a 20-4 win over Papua New Guinea’s Steven Tommy at the Runaway Bay Indoor Stadium in the men’s over-80-kilogram event.

The result secured Taufatofua a place at Tokyo 2020, where he will hope to improve on his first-round elimination four years ago at Rio 2016.

Taufatofua gained global attention at the Games as Tonga’s Opening Ceremony flagbearer, where he appeared shirtless and oiled.

He repeated the appearance when he qualified for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics in cross-country skiing.

His ambitions of competing at three successive Olympic Games in different sports took a blow earlier this month, when he failed to earn a quota place at the Oceania canoe sprint qualifier.

Taufatofua has now sealed a place a Tokyo 2020 in taekwondo.

Australia’s Jack Marton also booked his place at the Games in the men’s under-80kg competition.

Pita Taufatofua will now compete at a third successive Olympic Games ©World Taekwondo
Pita Taufatofua will now compete at a third successive Olympic Games ©World Taekwondo

He earned his quota place when Guam’s Alexander Allen was forced to withdraw from the contest when trailing 6-1.

New Zealand’s Thomas Burns secured the under-65kg berth, courtesy of a 35-25 win over Papua New Guinea’s Rainner Pinnie.

Australia’s Reba Stewart was a 15-3 winner against New Zealand’s Taylor Shaw in the women’s over-67kg division, while her team-mate Stacey Hymer won 33-0 against Samoa’s Theresa Vili in the under-57kg competition.

Both Australia’s Safwan Khalil and Tonga’s Malia Paseka qualified for the Olympics after being the sole competitors in their respective weight divisions.

Khalil will compete in the men’s under-58kg event, while Paseka will participate in the women’s under-67kg competition.