(Photo World Taekwondo)
The Chuncheon 2026 World Para Taekwondo Open Challenge officially began at the Songam Sports Town Air Dome in Chuncheon, Korea, bringing together 165 athletes from 36 countries, as well as the Refugee Team and World Taekwondo (Costa Rica) for two days of high-level Para Taekwondo competition.
This year’s event builds on the success of last year’s competition and once again serves as a showcase for many of the world’s leading Para Taekwondo athletes. Among the participants are 21 Paralympic medallists from the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, highlighting the exceptional level of competition on display.
Competition on the opening day featured the Men’s K44 -58kg and -63kg events, alongside the Women’s K44 -47kg, -52kg and -57kg categories.
There was a Turkish double in the Men’s events, as Paralympic silver medallist Ali Can Özcan won the K44 -58kg final against Azerbaijan’s Sabir Zeynalov, and Paralympic champion Mahmut Bozteke triumphed in the K44 -63kg final against Côte d’Ivoire’s Aboubacar Sidiki Samake.
Thailand’s Khwansuda Phuangkitcha clinched gold in the Women’s K44 -47kg with victory against Australia’s Shrijana Ghising, while Paris 2024 gold medallist Surenjav Ulambayar of Mongolia won the Women’s K44 -52kg final against Georgia’s Ana Japaridze.
Brazil’s Silvana Mayara Cardoso Fernandes was the day’s other winner after beating Türkiye’s Gamze Özcan in the Women’s K44 -57kg final.
Among the athletes competing were members of the Refugee Team from the Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan.
Mohammad Maher Karman, competing in the Men’s K44 -58kg, recorded an impressive opening-round victory over Kirthan Raj Asaithamby of Malaysia before narrowly missing out on a place in the later rounds after losing to Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medallist Xiang Wen Xiao of Chinese Taipei.
In the Women’s K44 -52kg category, Elaf Ismaael Al-Qublan faced a tough opening match against Kathlyn Vitoria Alves Soares of Brazil and was eliminated in the first round.
The competition concludes today with medals to be decided in the Men’s K44 -70kg, -80kg and +80kg categories, as well as the Women’s K44 -65kg and +65kg divisions.
