Marton, Khalil get shot at Rio taekwondo

Australia's husband-wife London Olympics taekwondo duo are a step closer to a shot at redemption in Rio, after being selected to contest next month's Oceania Olympic qualification tournament.

Carmen Marton and Safwan Khalil are two of four athletes nominated by Sports Taekwondo Australia for the event in Port Moresby, which is the last available pathway to Brazil.

Marton, 29, who competes in the women's less than 67kg division, narrowly missed out on a medal in London but the next year became Australia's first-ever taekwondo world champion.

Khalil (less than 58kg) joined his then fiancee in losing a tense bronze medal playoff, despite the 29-year-old having also been in peak form.

Joining the pair in Papua New Guinea will be Marton's older sister Caroline Marton (less than 57kg) and 25-year-old Hayder Shkara (less than 80kg).

STA were allowed to select only two males and two females for the event starting on February 27.

No Australians managed to book a spot via the World Taekwondo Federation rankings posted in December following the World Grand Prix final.

Khalil's brother and Australia's head coach in London, Ali Khalil, has again been appointed to the role.