Thrilling start to World Taekwondo U-21 Championships in Kasarani

Day One set an inspiring tone for the weeklong event, featuring 16 action-packed matches across multiple weight categories and delivering standout performances from rising stars around the world.

World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue, together with Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Sports, Elijah Mwangi, officially opened the global championship in a colourful ceremony that celebrated unity, youth empowerment, and the growth of Taekwondo on the African continent.

Kenya fielded four athletes on the opening day displaying courage and promise: Festo Wafula, Waida Mulah (heavyweight category), Willias Odhiambo and Vivian Shiali (flyweight). While they did not secure podium finishes, their spirited performances showcased resilience, tactical growth, and the competitive potential of Team Kenya.

With more Kenyan athletes scheduled to compete over the coming days, the team remains well-positioned for impactful showings as the championship progresses.

In his address during the opening ceremony, World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue emphasized the growing importance of youth competition in shaping the sport’s future.

“The level of competition in our sport continues to rise globally, and we are seeing champions emerging at younger and younger ages. This makes the Under-21 category especially significant, as it is here that we see the future of Taekwondo taking shape.”

Dr. Choue also highlighted Africa’s increasingly influential role: “This event holds special significance not only for Kenya but for the entire African continent. Africa continues to play an increasingly important role in the global Taekwondo landscape.

"By hosting world-level competitions, the standard of Taekwondo in Africa will continue to rise. We remain committed to supporting the development of the sport across African nations, including through Olympic and World Taekwondo development programmes.”

PS Mwangi reaffirmed Kenya’s dedication to expanding opportunities in sport and strengthening strategic partnerships:

“The growth of Taekwondo across the world—and here in Africa—has been supported by strong partnerships between governments, federations, and the private sector. Such collaborations strengthen sporting systems and align with broader initiatives in green energy, mobility, and economic integration.”

He further noted: “Kenya is committed to investing in Taekwondo from grassroots to elite levels. We want our young athletes to rise to continental and global excellence. Through joint efforts between government, federations, corporate partners, and communities, we are building a strong and sustainable foundation for the sport.”

The World Taekwondo Under-21 Championships continue today (Thursday) with more bouts, more rising stars, and more inspiration for the next generation of champions.

The first day’s packed schedule concluded with the crowning of champions who demonstrated exceptional skill and discipline on the mat.

Gold Medalists

●Zandi Abolfazi (Iran) – M-58kg

●Bekulova Milana (AIN – Individual Neutral Athletes) – W-49kg

●Kablan Beibarys (Kazakhstan) – M+87kg

●Kavukcuoglu Zehra Begum (Turkey) – W+73kg

Silver Medalists

●Magomedov Magomedgadzhi (AIN) – M-58kg

●Kim Hyang-gi (Korea) – W-49kg

●Yang Junyoung (Korea) – M+87kg

●Kitsiou Agoritsa Artemia (Greece) – W+73kg

Bronze Medal Winners

●Fonseca Gabriel (Brazil) and Dimitropoulos Konstantinos (Greece) – M-58kg

●Elaasal Nehza (Morocco) and Bokan Andrea (Serbia) – W-49kg

●Ifaoui Motaz (Tunisia) and Ashrafi Amirmohamad (Iran) – M+87kg

●Kuts Mariia (Ukraine) and Khayari Imane (Morocco) – W+73kg