Overview
Taekwondo was one of the 40 sports contested at the 2018 Asian Games, which were co‑hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia. The taekwondo programme comprised two major disciplines: kyorugi (sparring) and poomsae (forms). Competitions were held over several days, and medals were awarded across a range of weight categories for men and women, as well as mixed team events in poomsae.
Venue and dates
- Venue: Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) Hall D2, Jakarta, Indonesia
- Competition dates: 19 – 23 August 2018
Participating nations
A total of 33 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) entered athletes in the taekwondo competition, fielding approximately 300 competitors across all events. Nations with historically strong taekwondo programmes, such as South Korea, Iran, China, Thailand and Uzbekistan, were represented.
Competition format
Kyorugi
- Conducted under World Taekwondo (WT) rules.
- Men competed in eight weight classes (Flyweight – + 80 kg).
- Women competed in eight weight classes (Finweight – + 73 kg).
- Single‑elimination brackets with a repechage system to determine two bronze medals per weight class.
Poomsae
- Individual, pair, and mixed‑team events.
- Categories were open to both men and women, with separate medals for individual male, individual female, pair (male‑female), and mixed‑team performances.
- Judging was based on technical accuracy, presentation, and synchronization (for pairs/teams), following WT poomsae standards.
Medal summary
Men’s kyorugi (selected weight categories)
- Gold medals were won by athletes from South Korea, Iran, China, Thailand and other nations, reflecting the depth of competition across the continent.
Women’s kyorugi (selected weight categories)
- South Korea secured multiple golds; other gold medals were captured by competitors from Iran, Chinese Taipei, and Vietnam.
Poomsae
- South Korea dominated the poomsae events, winning gold in the individual male, individual female, and mixed‑team categories.
- Iran and China also achieved podium finishes in various poomsae events.
Medal table (top nations)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Korea | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | Iran | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | China | — | — | — | — |
Note: Exact medal counts are omitted to avoid presenting unverifiable figures; however, South Korea finished the taekwondo programme with the highest number of gold medals, followed by Iran and China.
Legacy
The 2018 Asian Games taekwondo competition continued the sport’s strong presence in the Asian Games programme, showcasing both competitive sparring and the artistic discipline of poomsae. Performances contributed to the development of taekwondo across the continent and provided valuable experience for athletes ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
