Chungwon Choue Received Honorary Doctorate in Uzbekistan During Junior Worlds Opening
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue received an honorary doctorate in Physical Education on April 12 from the Uzbekistan State University of Physical Education and Sport, in recognition of his contribution to the global development of Taekwondo and his broader role in international sports diplomacy.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue received an honorary doctorate in Physical Education on April 12 from the Uzbekistan State University of Physical Education and Sport, in recognition of his contribution to the global development of Taekwondo and his broader role in international sports diplomacy.
The ceremony took place in Tashkent on the opening day of the 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships, in an event attended by World Taekwondo Council members, university authorities, faculty, and students.
The distinction carried significance beyond the academic sphere. It reinforced the institutional standing of Choue at a moment when Uzbekistan continues to strengthen its profile as one of the most important emerging centers in world Taekwondo.
During the ceremony, Rector Rashid Matkarimov highlighted Choue’s leadership over the past two decades, pointing to his role in preserving and strengthening Taekwondo’s Olympic status while helping expand the sport’s global reach. He also underscored the humanitarian dimension of Choue’s legacy, including work linked to the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, which has supported refugees and displaced communities in different parts of the world.
In his acceptance remarks, Choue stressed the symbolic value of receiving the honor in an institution where Taekwondo education first took shape in Uzbekistan. He also praised the country’s development in the sport, describing Uzbekistan as an established force whose next generation is positioned to keep pushing its international rise.
Founded in 1955, the Uzbekistan State University of Physical Education and Sport is one of Central Asia’s leading sports institutions. With around 10,000 students and a dedicated Taekwondo department since 2008, it has become part of the country’s broader sporting structure at a time when Uzbekistan has grown into a major player across Olympic, Paralympic, and World Taekwondo events.
The timing of the recognition added another layer to the opening of the Junior Worlds. With Tashkent hosting one of the most important events on the international calendar, the honorary doctorate also projected a clear message: Uzbekistan is not only organizing major Taekwondo events, but also consolidating its institutional relevance within the sport’s global landscape.
For World Taekwondo, the moment placed Choue at the center of a ceremonial and political image of continuity, leadership, and international influence. For Uzbekistan, it served as another sign that its role in Taekwondo is no longer limited to competitive success alone.
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