Taiwan Taekwondo Gold returned to the island on Saturday as Liu Yu-yun captured the top prize at the World Taekwondo Championships in Wuxi, China. Her victory marks Taiwan’s first world taekwondo gold since 2015, signaling a major milestone for the sport nationally.
Liu, 18, overcame Turkey’s Elif Sude Akgul 3-1 in the women’s under-49kg final. She displayed resilience after dropping the first round, launching a decisive spinning head kick in the second round to tie the match. In the final round, Liu landed another precise head kick to secure the win, confirmed after a video review.
Before the final, Liu defeated Spanish Olympic silver medalist Adriana Cerezo Iglesias in the quarter-finals and Kazakhstan’s Nodira Akhmedova in the semi-finals. Her strong performance at the Summer World University Games in Germany this July had already highlighted her growing international potential.
Head coach Su Tai-yuan praised Liu, noting her 175cm height gives her a natural advantage in the under-49kg category. He emphasized her technical skill, mental toughness, and readiness for high-level competition.
The victory holds broader significance for Taiwan, reinforcing national pride in international sports. Liu follows in the footsteps of Chuang Chia-chia, who last won a world taekwondo gold in 2015. Observers say Liu’s win could inspire a new generation of Taiwanese athletes to pursue martial arts at a global level.
In parallel, Taiwan excelled at the Kettlebell World Championships in Poland, earning 17 medals including five golds. Gold medalists Ting Ya-han and Tseng Yung-lin were celebrated after the organizers played Taiwan’s national anthem while they raised the ROC flag. Tseng described the moment as an unforgettable emotional experience.
The Taipei Representative Office in Poland praised the athletes’ achievements and noted that the performances elevated Taiwan’s international visibility. Officials said these successes reflect the dedication and talent of Taiwanese athletes across multiple disciplines.
Looking ahead, Taiwan’s sports authorities plan to continue investing in talent development and international competition participation. Liu’s Taiwan Taekwondo Gold highlights the potential of young athletes to achieve global recognition while promoting national pride.
