Indonesia has once again proven its prowess as a host of world-class sporting events with the staging of the 8th Asian Taekwondo Indonesia Open Championships 2026. This prestigious G2 World Taekwondo level championship officially opened at the Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta, on Sunday (2/8/2026), serving as a crucial point-scoring battleground toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics for 531 athletes from 36 countries.
General Chairperson of the Indonesian Taekwondo Board (PBTI), Lieutenant General TNI Richard Tampubolon, emphasized that this championship marks a new historical milestone after nearly two decades of Indonesia's absence from hosting large-scale taekwondo tournaments. This tournament was also successfully organized thanks to the support of the TNI Commander, General Agus Subiyanto, as part of the commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of the TNI.
Indonesia's success in hosting was secured through a tight bidding process against strong competitors such as Malaysia and India. The presence of delegations from various continents—ranging from Asia, Europe, to Australia—is expected not only to improve the quality of national athlete development but also to boost the country's sport tourism sector.
President of the Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU), Kim Sang-jin, expressed high appreciation for the dedication of the organizing committee and Indonesia's warm hospitality in welcoming world representatives. During the opening ceremony, special honorary Kukkiwon DAN black belts were presented to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, and the Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Red and White team has delivered a brilliant performance, securing 6 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals. One of the gold medals was contributed by Muhammad Hafizh Fachrur Rhozy in the recognized under 30 category. Hafizh stated that this championship is a golden opportunity for national training center (Pelatnas) athletes to sharpen their mental strength on the international stage to achieve their dream of competing in the Olympics.
In this tournament, PBTI deployed a total of 31 national training center athletes, consisting of 20 kyorugi (sparring) athletes and 11 poomsae (forms) athletes. The competition series for the poomsae category took place on August 1–2, while the kyorugi category is scheduled to run from August 3 to 5, 2026.
