The iconic Muju Taekwondowon welcomed 119 athletes from 27 countries, with all ten gold medals awarded to representatives from different nations.

Australia produced one of the day’s standout victories when Shrijana Ghising defeated Thailand’s Khwansuda Phuangkitcha in the women’s K44 -47kg final. The result gave Australia its first gold medal at a major Para Taekwondo event since 2010.

Azerbaijan’s Sabir Zeynalov secured back-to-back Grand Prix titles in the men’s K44 -58kg category after overcoming Brazil’s Gustavo Antony Czerniak Ruppel.

Paralympic champion Sürenjav Ulambayar of Mongolia prevailed against Georgia’s European champion and Roma 2026 gold medallist Ana Japaridze in a high-level women’s K44 -52kg final.

Türkiye’s Mahmut Bozteke continued his successful season with victory over five-time world champion and Paris 2024 silver medallist Bolor-Erdene Ganbat of Mongolia in the men’s K44 -63kg division.

Brazil also reached the top of the podium through Silvana Mayara Cardoso Fernandes, who defeated reigning Paralympic champion Yujie Li of China in the women’s K44 -57kg final. Fernandes earned her second consecutive Grand Prix gold.

García López returns to the top

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic champion Juan Diego García López of Mexico returned to winning form by defeating Italy’s Antonino Bossolo in the men’s K44 -70kg final.

Greece’s Christina Gkentzou extended her outstanding year in the women’s K44 -65kg category. She overcame Thailand’s Awipa Phuaphan to add the Muju title to her gold medals at the European Championships and the Roma 2026 World Para Taekwondo Grand Prix.

In the men’s K44 -80kg final, Iran’s Mahdi Pourrahnama defeated Kazakhstan’s Nurlan Dombayev.

Uzbekistan’s Guljonoy Naimova earned a dramatic victory over Great Britain’s Paralympic champion Amy Truesdale in the women’s K44 +65kg final, adding another Grand Prix title following her success in Rome.

The final contest of the day featured a rematch of the Paris 2024 Paralympic final. This time, Aliaskhab Ramazanov of Russia edged past Great Britain’s Matt Bush to claim the men’s K44 +80kg title.

Competition at Muju Taekwondowon continues with the second World Taekwondo Grand Prix of the season. The opening day will feature the women’s -49kg and men’s -58kg categories.

Source: World Taekwondo

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