Vietnam wins first gold at 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships
Vietnam won its first gold medal at the 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea, on Friday, with Nguyen Thien Phung and Nguyen Thi Le Kim taking the mixed-pair under-50 title.
Thien Phung (right) and Le Kim (left) celebrate their gold medal at the 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships with coach Nguyen Minh Tu. Photo: Supplied
The victory came on the third day of competition after Vietnam had collected one silver and two bronze medals over the opening two days.
Chau Tuyet Van won silver in the women’s individual standard poomsae under-40 event, while the men’s under-50 and women’s under-30 teams each claimed bronze.
Vietnam’s hopes then turned to the mixed-pair standard poomsae under-50 event, which featured 27 pairs but no South Korean representatives.
Phung and Kim defeated opponents from Myanmar, Chinese Taipei, Türkiye, and Iran on their way to the final, where they faced Denmark.
The Vietnamese pair produced a strong performance to beat the Danish duo and secure the gold medal.
Thien Phung (left) and Le Kim compete at the championships. Photo: Supplied
Thien Phung (left) and Le Kim compete against the Danish pair in the final. Photo: Supplied
Vietnam had also won the event at the 2024 world championships in Hong Kong, China, when Phung competed alongside Chau Tuyet Van.
This year, coach Nguyen Thanh Huy paired Phung with Kim instead, but the result remained the same.
Vietnam will have another medal opportunity on Saturday in the women’s under-50 team standard poomsae event, with Chau Tuyet Van, Nguyen Thi Le Kim, and Lien Thi Tuyet Mai set to compete.
2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships
The 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships are being held in Chuncheon, South Korea, from September 16 to 20.
The event has attracted a record 1,411 athletes from 83 countries, as well as the World Taekwondo Refugee Team, competing across 42 medal events.
The championships are among the sport’s most prestigious poomsae tournaments, bringing together leading athletes from taekwondo powerhouses including South Korea, the U.S., Iran, Spain, and Denmark.
Nguyen Thien Phung and Nguyen Thi Le Kim’s gold medal also comes as Vietnamese taekwondo approaches the 30th anniversary of the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation.
Ngoc Nguyen - Nguyen Khoi / Tuoi Tre News
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