The President of the Austrian Taekwondo Federation and European Taekwondo Union (ETU) Council Member spoke exclusively to MASTKD during the Croatia Open Poomsae 2026. With 522 participants taking part in a successful international event, Hübl addressed the growing gap between European and Asian Poomsae, the need for professional training structures, and the opportunities ahead of the Istanbul 2027 European Games.

The event marks another successful edition of the international tournament and represents an important opportunity for athletes to compete following the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships held in Chuncheon, South Korea, last September.

Against this backdrop, MASTKD spoke exclusively with Dr. Alexander Hübl, President of the Austrian Taekwondo Federation, member of the European Taekwondo Union (ETU) Council, and Technical Delegate of the Croatia Open.

Alexander Hübl: Experience Across Taekwondo Leadership, Refereeing, and Education

Hübl has served as President of the Austrian Taekwondo Federation since 2022 and became an elected member of the ETU Council in 2025.

His extensive background includes international refereeing in both Kyorugi and Poomsae, national responsibilities in Poomsae refereeing, and the organization of major international competitions, including the 2024 European Poomsae Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.

Beyond Taekwondo, Hübl holds a PhD in Operations Research from the University of Vienna and has pursued an academic career focused on mathematical modeling, optimization, and complex decision-making systems.

His experience across different areas of the sport provides a broader perspective on one of Europe’s most pressing challenges: developing the structures needed to compete with Asia’s leading Poomsae nations.

Croatia Open Reflects the International Growth of Poomsae

What are your expectations for the level of competition at this year’s Croatia Open Poomsae?

I expect spectacular Poomsae in Europe. This is the first tournament after the World Championships here in good old Europe.

So I expect a lot of exciting performances. We also have teams from the U.S. and South America, so it is very international here in Croatia.

Poomsae has been growing very fast in Europe over the past few years. With Poomsae included in next year’s European Games, how important are events like the Croatia Open in preparing athletes for that opportunity?

I think for the European Games, or for the Youth Games, it is very important that Poomsae is also present.

So this is, I think, a historic moment. Not only Kyorugi, but also our best Poomsae athletes will have this opportunity.

The downside is that it is only the Under-30 category, but still, it is Poomsae.

It is a great achievement by the World Taekwondo representatives and, of course, European Taekwondo, who have been fighting for Poomsae.

And I think we will see very good athletes there next year as well.

With 522 participants confirmed for this edition, how do you assess the level of participation?

We have more than 510. On the list I received, there are 522 competition entries.

I think it is a little less than last year, but it is after the World Championships.

And we have the European Championships next year, so I think a lot of countries, especially European countries, are already looking at qualification tournaments for next year.

So, let’s rock and roll!

Europe Versus Asia: A Gap That Begins in the Schools

You have had a long career as an international referee, coach, and sports official. Now, as President of the Austrian Taekwondo Federation, what are your main goals?

The goal for Austria is to be transparent and to enable Taekwondo for everybody.

So this is my vision: that Poomsae is treated fairly, Kyorugi is treated fairly, and every athlete who really wants to get involved in high-level sport has a fair chance.

And this is really difficult here in Europe because we have huge disadvantages, especially in schools.

If I look at Korea or other Asian countries, schools offer professional training opportunities for children.

And that is incredibly difficult here in Europe because there are not enough places available for Taekwondo.

We have really huge fights to get our children into such specialized schools, and this is something we are also trying to achieve in Austria.

Because if children don’t start early with professional training, it becomes extremely difficult to reach that level.

We have seen it at the World Championships. What Asia is doing in Poomsae is incredible.

And in Freestyle, I was completely speechless watching it on television, seeing what was happening.

I think in Freestyle we had only one Italian athlete who came close to that level.

I really don’t know what is going on there.

Freestyle and the Challenge of Professional Athlete Development

Hübl’s assessment highlights one of the most significant structural differences between European and Asian Poomsae development.

While several Asian countries benefit from established systems that combine education with specialized sports training from an early age, many European nations continue to face considerable difficulties in providing similar opportunities.

His observations are particularly relevant following the 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Chuncheon, where Asian athletes once again demonstrated their international strength.

For the Austrian President, the challenge extends beyond technical ability or individual talent. It also involves the educational and institutional structures needed to support athletes throughout their development.

Taekwondo’s Struggle for Recognition: Competing With Skiing and Football

Having experienced almost every role in Taekwondo, you can look at the sport from different angles. What do you think is still missing in Austria’s development within European and World Taekwondo?

I mean, what is missing in Austria is that Taekwondo is not skiing.

In Austria, it has to be skiing, damn it, or football!

I think that is the disadvantage of martial arts.

I wouldn’t call us a second-class sport, but that is somehow how we are recognized by the public.

And I think we have to show them that we are not stupid, that we are smart people.

We want to educate our children. Self-confidence is very important. Athletics is important.

And this is what we are trying to promote for our children and for our sport.

Austrian Open 2027: Calendar Challenges and International Ambitions

Austria hosts major international competitions in both Poomsae and Kyorugi. What are your plans for the Austrian Open events in 2027?

We are still working on that.

I heard yesterday that the plan for Kyorugi might change because there is a conflict with Bulgaria.

But let’s see how the dates work out.

We also want to move the Austrian Open Poomsae forward so that we can still use this tournament for qualification for the European Championships next year.

We still have to submit the applications, and I think we have some conflicts with the dates again.

But we expect great tournaments in Austria once again.

Looking Towards Istanbul 2027: A Turning Point for European Poomsae

Beyond the successful international turnout at the Croatia Open Poomsae 2026, Alexander Hübl’s reflections raise questions that extend far beyond Austria.

The inclusion of Poomsae in the Istanbul 2027 European Games represents an important step forward for the discipline and creates a new competitive opportunity for European athletes.

However, Hübl’s assessment also points to a broader structural challenge.

Closing the gap with Asia’s leading nations will require more than talented competitors and international tournaments. It will also depend on the ability of national federations, educational institutions, and sports organizations to establish training environments that support athletes from an early age.

As European Poomsae continues to expand, the next challenge may be not simply to increase participation, but to build the foundations that allow its athletes to compete consistently at the highest international level.

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