Biggest-ever World Taekwondo Cadet Championships 2025 wraps up in Fujairah
Over 800 athletes competed for five-day martial arts spectacle in the UAE
DUBAI: This week, the Emirate of Fujairah made history by hosting the largest-ever World Taekwondo Cadet Championships, drawing 811 athletes from 93 Member National Associations (MNAs) to the Zayed Sports Complex.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, the 7th edition of the championships ran from 10th to 14th May 2025.
The five-day tournament shattered previous participation records, surpassing the 671 athletes from 67 countries who competed in the 5th edition held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2022. With an increase of 140 athletes, Fujairah 2025 underscored the growing popularity and global reach of cadet-level Taekwondo.
A ‘Seven-Star Edition’
Philippe Bouedo, Technical Delegate at the World Taekwondo Federation, praised the event’s exceptional organisation and strong engagement from the international Taekwondo community. The 2025 edition was widely hailed for its professional execution, high standards of competition, and enthusiastic public turnout – earning it the distinction of a “Seven-Star Edition.”
The UAE’s role in promoting martial arts on the world stage was further acknowledged through the Active Participation Award, recognising its significant involvement in the event.
Championships highlights
The final day of competition saw athletes from Iran, Korea, Morocco, and an Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) team take home gold medals. Notably, Nikolai Sychev (AIN) secured gold in the M -41kg category, edging Oman’s Dawood Fahad Al-Yusufi in a close contest. Al-Yusufi’s silver marked Oman’s first-ever medal at a World Taekwondo Championship in Kyorugi across all age levels.
Korea’s Geunmi Lee delivered a dominant performance in the W -37kg final against Morocco’s Khadija Amrani, winning both rounds decisively. Thailand’s Chatpavee Pornchaithammakhun and Belgium’s Alicia Badji earned bronze in the same category.
In the M -57kg final, Iran’s Parsa Houshyar overpowered Kazakhstan’s Ayatzhan Amirkhanov to claim gold with commanding scores. Azerbaijan’s Saleh Heydarov and Ukraine’s Prokhor Naboka took bronze.
Morocco’s Samar Lamlih wrapped up the gold medal victories, defeating Iran’s Ghazal Kabousi in the W -59kg final. Bronze in that category went to Chinese Taipei’s Yi-Syuan Jhuang Hsu and Serbia’s Anastasija Jerkovic.
Team standings and awards
Iran topped the men’s team rankings, followed by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Thailand, and Korea. Korea led the women’s team standings ahead of Chinese Taipei, Morocco, Türkiye, and Iran.
Individual honours included:
- Most Valuable Player (Men): Christopher Andre Astorga Melgar (El Salvador, M -49kg)
- Most Valuable Player (Women): Yoon Ju Oh (Korea, W -29kg)
- Best Men’s Coach: Houshyar Dindar (Iran)
- Best Women’s Coach: Eung Hyun Kim (Korea)
- Best Male Referee: Ivan Penava (Croatia)
- Best Female Referee: Daniele Soares Martins (Brazil)
- Fighting Spirit Award: Iraq
Fujairah 2025 welcomed more than 800 athletes aged between 12 and 14, representing 89 MNAs, Individual Neutral Athletes, and the Refugee Team – making it a landmark edition in the championship’s history and a global celebration of youth martial arts talent.