HONG KONG, China (Dec 1, 2024) - The biggest-ever World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships is already delivering outstanding performances and successes for Member National Associations from around the globe, and that was highlighted on day one when Vietnam ended their long wait for a gold medal at the event.
Eight years had passed since Vietnamese athletes had last stood on top of the podium at the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, but that changed in Hong Kong, China as they triumphed in the Freestyle Poomsae Mixed Team Over 17 final.
Vietnam top scored in the semi-final which meant they went last in the final, and were faced with strong competition, most notably from Mexico who notched 8.660. However, Vietnam produced a breathtaking display of kicking and spinning which stunned the crowd at the Hong Kong Coliseum, and scored 8.680 to pip the Mexican team to the gold.
The significance of this achievement was not lost on the team, as articulated by Thanh Hien Linh Nguyen, who had previously won a Female Team Cadet bronze at the Taipei 2018 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships.
“To achieve the gold medal is an honour, and we were surprised about this,” she said.
“The last time we got a gold medal was 2016, so this one really changed our history. It was also the first day of competition, so the team are really proud and we have a stepping stone for them to try their best to get another one.
“This is really a long time for us. We didn’t have any feeling before, so when we received this we were really surprised.”
Her team-mate Ngoc Minh Hy Nguyen was part of Vietnam’s gold medal-winning Freestyle Poomsae Mixed Team in the under-17 age bracket at the Lima 2016 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. He expressed his belief that the team’s success at over-17 level in Hong Kong, China will have a real impact and inspire younger generations at home in Vietnam.
“First of all the sport is really important, it contributes to our health. After Vietnam got the gold medal, more children will practise Taekwondo and look at us as role models they can follow,” Nguyen said.
The six athletes who combined to end Vietnam’s wait for a World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships gold medal had only been working together as a team for the last three months, but for each of them it has delivered a fulfilling and enriching experience.
For Thanh An Ho, it completed a full set of medals at this event, having previously won Freestyle Mixed Team silver and Freestyle Individual bronze in the under-17 age divison at Goyang 2022.
“I like the environment here. It is so cool, and in this competition, I need to improve my skill and learn from the other athletes,” he reflected.
Ngoc Minh Hy Nguyen added that the atmosphere in the Hong Kong Coliseum had helped the Vietnamese team to thrive during the competition, but acknowledged there is still more for them to work on.
“I like the atmosphere. Everyone cheers when the athletes come to the stage, and also my team when we came to the stage really cheered us and that helped fire us up,” he said.
“Although we have the gold medal, there are still some mistakes and we have some problems in our team – first of all on the kicking, we missed one, and secondly we have to develop our skills in spinning kick, upgrading from 900 to 1080.”
Phuong Nhung Tran and Thi Y Binh Nguyen were making their debuts at the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, while Dang Khoa Tran returned having competed at the last four editions.
For Phuong Nhung Tran, it has proved an important milestone in her career and a memorable visit to Hong Kong, China.
“I am really excited to compete and especially to have a gold medal. It is another step in my life. I had many feelings, and about the competition, I am really happy with the concept and the professionalism – the music, the sound and the performance,” she said.
Thanh Hien Linh Nguyen summarised what she has taken from an extremely positive World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships.
“For me, I have gained much experience from other athletes too, because they are really good and I have learned a lot from them. I have made more friends, I exchanged shirt and pins with them, I improved my English skills too, and the scenery of Hong Kong is really good – I really like it!” she exclaimed.
Vietnam’s performance got the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships off to an outstanding start, and we can expect more inspirational stories and performances in the coming days through to 4 December.
