Strong Start at the World Taekwondo GP Challenge Muju 2025
The World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge 2025 opened on August 28 at the Muju Taekwondowon, South Korea, with 334 athletes from 30 nations, along with Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) and the Taekwondo Refugee Team (TRT).
Day 1 featured action in the Women’s -49 kg and Men’s -80 kg divisions, both filled with top-ranked seeds.
The World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge 2025 opened on August 28 at the Muju Taekwondowon, South Korea, with 334 athletes from 30 nations, along with Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) and the Taekwondo Refugee Team (TRT).
Day 1 featured action in the Women’s -49 kg and Men’s -80 kg divisions, both filled with top-ranked seeds.
Women’s -49 kg: Lee from Korea wins gold after tough matches
The -49 kg draw included 37 athletes, with seeded favorites such as Kim Hyang-Gi (1, KOR), Kamonchano Seeken (2, THA), Ying Hsuan Huang (3, TPE), and Hinata Okazaki (4, JPN). Other seeded contenders included Nodira Akhmedova (6, KAZ) and Violeta Díaz Arribas (7, ESP).
In the end, it was Ye-ji Lee (23, KOR) who delivered the upset of the day by taking gold. Alisa Angelova (AIN) earned silver, while Nodira Akhmedova (KAZ) claimed bronze.
🥇 Ye-ji Lee (KOR)
🥈 Alisa Angelova (AIN)
🥉 Nodira Akhmedova (KAZ)
Men’s -80 kg: Nickolas from USA takes the title on Day 1
The -80 kg division featured 38 competitors, with the bracket led by strong seeds such as Firas Katousi (1, TUN), CJ Nickolas (2, USA), Faysal Sawadogo (3, BUR), Batykrha Toleugali (4, KAZ), Henrique M. Rodrigues Fernandes (6, BRA), and Souhili Bouzid (7, FRA).
CJ Nickolas (2, USA) lived up to expectations and secured the gold medal. Jaegwon Kang (KOR) earned silver, while Henrique M. Rodrigues Fernandes (6, BRA) took bronze.
🥇 CJ Nickolas (USA)
🥈 Jaegwon Kang (KOR)
🥉 Henrique M. Rodrigues Fernandes (BRA)
Day 1 Overview
The opening day confirmed the strength of seeded athletes, but also brought surprises such as Ye-ji Lee’s (23) triumph in the women’s -49 kg category. High-intensity matches set the tone for a competitive and exciting week in Muju.
Road to Paris 2026
Beyond medals, the Muju Challenge offers a major reward: all medalists earn direct qualification to Grand Prix Series 2 in Paris 2026, with one athlete per nation per weight class.
📌 Official information – World Taekwondo GP Challenge Muju 2025
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