FUJAIRAH, UAE (May 12, 2025) - Shao Yen Wu of Chinese Taipei travelled to Fujairah for the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships knowing she was a stronger athlete for her experience from the event two years ago in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On that occasion in 2023, Wu had exited at the first-round stage, so perhaps some nerves going into this year’s edition were understandable. However, they quickly dissipated with her impressive performances on the mats of the Zayed Sports Complex.
Those displays ultimately took her all the way to an impressive gold in the W -55kg category after she overcame Dorsa Veisi in two closely contested rounds in the final.
“Before this competition, I simply wanted to get any medal and reach the semi-final,” Wu said.
“This is not my first time attending the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships. The first time, I lost in my first match, so this time I was really nervous and scared for the first round.
“But then when I got to the semi-finals, I became looser and was able to do the duels and actions that my coach taught me.”
Wu has the Olympic Games as her ultimate career goal, and is grateful for the experience she has already from competing at international events including the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships twice.
“I felt very excited of course. It was unbelievable to get to this stage, and I feel I have advanced to another level,” she said of her triumph in Fujairah.
Wu’s family have had a huge influence on her career. Her brother also practises Taekwondo, and was the one who first encouraged her to give it a try when she was six-years-old.
She now trains for approximately three hours per day, six days a week, and acknowledged the importance of her family’s support.
“First of all was my family, because all the way through the journey they supported me. Even when I was down, they still encouraged me,” Wu said.
“Secondly is my coach, who has been calling me and asking about everything the whole time.”
Wu’s experience has taught her the importance of being “brave to face any challenges”, but she insists developing in Taekwondo should above all remain fun for young people.
“I encourage all the people that learning Taekwondo should be a fun thing, so they should not be afraid of anything,” Wu commented.
With her gold medal in Fujairah, Wu has already come a long way in Taekwondo and proven the importance of the World Taekwondo Cadet Championships in providing talented young athletes with vital competition experience against their counterparts from around the world.
