The Executive Board of Indonesian Taekwondo (PBTI) has officially established a strategic partnership with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to host the prestigious tournament titled the 8th Asian Taekwondo Indonesia Open Championships 2026. This international-scale tournament is scheduled to take place from August 1 to 5, 2026, at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta, while also being part of the celebrations for the 81st Anniversary of the TNI.
General Chairperson of PBTI, Lieut. Gen. (TNI) Richard Tampubolon, emphasized that this collaboration is a tangible manifestation of the TNI's commitment to promoting the advancement of national sports. Moreover, this competition holds World Taekwondo (WT) G2 status, making it a crucial stage for global athletes to accumulate ranking points to secure their tickets to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Richard is optimistic that this cross-sector synergy will not only ensure the professional operational success of the tournament but also strengthen Indonesia's reputation on the global stage. This cooperation is deemed capable of reinforcing the foundation of talent development for young athletes in the country through an integrated training path.
As a form of concrete support for the future of athletes, the TNI actively facilitates high-performing athletes to join as soldiers, both through non-commissioned officer (bintara) and officer (perwira) entry paths. Several Indonesian mainstay taekwondo athletes who are currently serving as TNI members include First Lieutenant Muhammad Alfi Kusuma (gold medalist at the 2025 SEA Games), Second Lieutenant Muhammad Rizal, and Second Lieutenant Ni Kadek Heni Prikasih, who is the 2023 Asian Championships winner.
This world-class championship will feature two main categories. The Poomsae division is scheduled to take place on August 1–2, while the sparring division or Kyorugi will be contested on August 3–5, 2026. The official opening ceremony of the championship is planned to take place on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
