The seventh World Taekwondo President’s Cup (Asia region) began on April 23 in Tai’an, Shandong Province, with a two-day competition. On the opening day, the Chinese team earned 1 gold, 2 silver, and 5 bronze medals. Highlighting the day was Ma Jingyue’s victory in the women’s 49kg category.

This G3-level Olympic ranking event awards 30 Olympic points to each gold medalist. It attracted more than 400 athletes from over 20 countries and regions, including South Korea, Iran, and France. The tournament features eight weight divisions for both men and women. It also marks the debut of the newly formed Chinese Taekwondo team for the 2025 international season.

On day one, competitions were held in four weight classes each for men and women. In the women’s 49kg final, Ma Jingyue used her height and strong control in long-range exchanges to secure a 2-0 win over Thailand’s Sikan.

After the match, Ma said her success was due to repeated training focused on quick transitions after attacking and effective defense at long range. She also spoke about the value of competing with international athletes. “I saw the tough style of Iranian fighters and noticed how eager many foreign athletes are when scoring. There’s a lot I can learn from them,” she said.

At 24, Ma Jingyue has emerged as a rising star over the past year. She won the 2024 National Taekwondo Championship Finals and the 2024 World Taekwondo Grand Slam Champion Series (Challenger Series), becoming a strong contender in the lighter weight classes. This year, the Xinjiang native has set new goals. “I want to give my best in every match and earn more Olympic points to qualify for the next Games,” she said.

In two other finals involving Chinese athletes, Chen Lin lost 0-2 to South Korea’s Kim Kahyun in the women’s 57kg final, and Tang Hao was defeated 0-2 by Uzbekistan’s Mavlonov in the men’s over-87kg category.

Bronze medals were claimed by Xiang Qizhang, Yang Sai, Wang Xiaolu, Song Zhaoxiang, and Dai Zongyuan in their respective divisions.

The competition will continue on April 24 with four additional events each for men and women, including the women’s 73kg and men’s 54kg categories.