Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The 17th Southeast Asian Taekwondo Championships and Junior Championships, together with the 21st International Taekwondo Clubs Championships, opened on August 19 at the Sports Arena of south central Khanh Hoa province, bringing together 372 athletes, coaches and officials from regional countries.
The host nation Vietnam leads the field with 115 participants, underlining its strength as one of Asia’s Taekwondo powerhouses. The Vietnamese team heads into the competition in strong form, having claimed three gold medals at the 2024 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. Traditional rivals such as the Philippines also arrived with formidable squads, setting the stage for intense contests.
At the opening ceremony, Nguyen Doanh Hoang Viet, Director of the Sports Authority of Vietnam, noted the importance of the tournaments as Vietnam is preparing for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 33). He highlighted that beyond the medals, Taekwondo promotes discipline, perseverance, respect and solidarity.
President of the ASEAN Taekwondo Federation (ATF) Manuel Monsour Del Rosario III said the tournaments marked the federation’s 35th founding anniversary, urging athletes to compete with integrity while embracing the spirit of friendship.
The opening was followed by a powerful demonstration by Vietnam’s poomsae team, launching a week of fierce competition in the coastal city of Nha Trang./.
