SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – The 2024 Muju International Open Virtual Taekwondo Championship is set to take place on September 4 and 5 at the Taekwondowon’s Doyak Center in Muju, North Jeolla Province, coinciding with Taekwondo Day.
According to the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, this event marks the first international competition to apply World Taekwondo (WT) regulations in a virtual format. The championship will feature three categories: men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles.
The tournament will also include special exhibition matches, such as junior mixed team events, adult mixed team events, and a highly anticipated showdown between Olympic medalists and Poomsae (forms) legends.
Lee Da-bin, a bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is scheduled to face Seo Yeong-ae, a guest professor at Jeonju Vision College who has claimed nine gold medals in World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships.
Approximately 50 athletes from South Korea, Singapore, Russia, and Hong Kong will participate in both the main competition and exhibition events.
Virtual taekwondo utilizes motion-tracking sensors attached to athletes’ arms and legs, allowing them to compete in a virtual space. This innovative approach combines traditional martial arts with cutting-edge technology.
The event, sanctioned by World Taekwondo, is jointly organized by the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation and the Korea Taekwondo Association.
On September 4, Taekwondowon will host a ceremony commemorating Taekwondo Day. The celebration will be attended by Paris Olympic gold medalists Park Tae-jun of Kyung Hee University and Kim Yu-jin of Ulsan Metropolitan City Sports Association, alongside bronze medalist Lee Da-bin.
Following the championship, from September 6 to 8, the venue will host the 2024 World Taekwondo Octagon Diamond Games.
Taekwondo Day, observed on September 4, marks the date in 1994 when taekwondo was officially recognized as an Olympic sport at the 103rd International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Paris.
Image credit: Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, World Taekwondo / photonews@koreabizwire.com
