Indonesia Hosts Asian Taekwondo Open for First Time in Nearly 20 Years

Indonesia hosts historic Asian Taekwondo Open after two-decade gap

Indonesia opened the 8th Asian Taekwondo Indonesia Open Championships 2026 at the Indoor Tennis Arena in Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex on Sunday, marking the country's return to hosting an international taekwondo championship after nearly two decades.

Indonesian Taekwondo Executive Board (PBTI) Chairman Richard Tampubolon, who was elected to lead the organization for the 2023-2027 term, described the event as a significant milestone demonstrating Indonesia's readiness to host high-quality international sporting competitions.

The five-day championship, running from August 1 through August 5, 2026, has drawn 478 taekwondo athletes from 36 countries to compete in one of the largest taekwondo events ever held in Indonesia. As the World Taekwondo Grade G2 tournament, the championship carries substantial weight, offering athletes crucial world ranking points toward World Championships and Olympic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Indonesia fielded 31 athletes from the PBTI national training center, comprising 20 kyorugi and 11 poomsae competitors. The host nation demonstrated strong early form, securing six gold medals, three silver medals, and three bronze medals in poomsae events on the opening day of competition.

Competitive bidding process

Tampubolon explained that hosting rights were secured through collaboration between PBTI and Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Headquarters following a competitive bidding process in South Korea. Indonesia prevailed against several candidate nations, including Malaysia and India, earning the trust of the Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU), which was founded in 1978 and comprises 45 member associations representing an estimated population of 4.4 billion people across Asia.

Today, we have proven that we are fulfilling that trust with full responsibility.

Tampubolon remarked during the opening ceremony.

The championship is being held as part of the Indonesian National Armed Forces 81st Anniversary celebrations, with support from TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto.

Sports tourism hub

Tampubolon emphasized that the championship demonstrates to the international community that Indonesia is a safe destination and an emerging global hub for sports tourism. The 8,000-seat Indoor Tennis Arena venue is part of the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, originally built with Soviet assistance in 1960-1962 to host the 1962 Asian Games.

He urged all participants to compete with sportsmanship, discipline, and mutual respect.

Let this championship serve as momentum to strengthen friendship among nations around the world.

The opening ceremony was attended by ATU President Kim Sang-jin, who was elected as the 10th President of the Asian Taekwondo Union on July 24, 2025, in Kuching, Malaysia, with a term lasting until August 2029. Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir, Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono, Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Tandyo Budi Revita, and Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari.

Asian Games preparation

The championship arrives as Indonesia prepares for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for September 19 to October 4, 2026. Indonesia will send 432 athletes to compete across 35 disciplines, accompanied by 148 coaches and officials and 32 administrative staff, underscoring the country's commitment to regional sporting excellence.