The 8th Asian Taekwondo Indonesia Open Championships 2026 will be held at the Indoor Tennis Arena, Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) in Senayan, Jakarta, from August 1 to 5.
The World Taekwondo (WT) G2-sanctioned event will bring together hundreds of athletes from 32 countries, who will compete for medals as well as valuable world ranking points.
As one of the most prestigious tournaments on the official World Taekwondo calendar, every result achieved in Jakarta will influence athletes’ positions in the race for ranking points leading to the World Championships and the Olympic Games.
With its G2 status, the tournament offers more world ranking points than a G1 event, making it an attractive competition for elite taekwondo athletes from around the world.
Indonesia’s selection as host is regarded as a vote of confidence from the Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU) and World Taekwondo in the ability of the Indonesian Taekwondo Association (PBTI) to organize an international-standard championship.
PBTI Chairman Lieutenant General Richard Tampubolon said the trust placed in Indonesia must be answered by delivering a professional event while also improving the performance of the country’s athletes.
“The trust given by the Asian Taekwondo Union and World Taekwondo is a great honor for Indonesia. It is proof that Indonesia is considered an important part of the development of taekwondo worldwide. We want to deliver a professionally organized championship while making it a momentum for the revival of Indonesian taekwondo,” he said.
According to Richard, the presence of the world’s elite athletes will also benefit Indonesian taekwondo practitioners by allowing them to experience top-level international competition without having to compete overseas.
“The experience of facing the world’s best athletes on home soil will be invaluable in building a winning mentality and improving the competitiveness of Indonesian athletes at the international level,” he said.
The championship is expected to be highly competitive.
Several countries with strong taekwondo traditions—including South Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Australia, the United States, Türkiye, the Netherlands, and Russia—have confirmed their participation, alongside contingents from across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.
PBTI Secretary General Rafael Hotasi Siagian said all technical preparations for the event have entered their final stages.
The arrival of the technical delegate, competition supervisory board, international referees, and participant registration has been organized in accordance with World Taekwondo standards.
“We are ensuring that every aspect of the championship meets international standards, both in terms of competition and the services provided to athletes, officials, and delegates. We want to deliver the best possible experience for everyone coming to Indonesia,” he said.
Rafael added that the significance of hosting the event lies not only in its successful organization but also in the opportunity it provides for Indonesian athletes to measure the results of their training and development.
“This championship is a golden opportunity for Indonesian athletes to compete directly against the world’s best, boost their confidence, and evaluate the effectiveness of their training program without having to travel abroad,” he added.
A total of 31 Indonesian athletes will compete in the kyorugi and poomsae events.
They will face international medalists as well as athletes seeking additional ranking points for upcoming world championships.
The Recognized Poomsae and Freestyle Poomsae events will be contested on August 1–2, while the Senior Men’s and Women’s Kyorugi competitions will take place from August 3–5.
The Indoor Tennis Arena at GBK was selected as the competition venue because of its international-standard facilities, which were previously used during the 2018 Asian Games.
The venue features three competition courts, seating for nearly 4,000 spectators, and a range of supporting facilities that meet World Taekwondo hosting standards.
PBTI hopes Indonesian athletes will make the most of this opportunity to gain more international competition experience and earn additional world ranking points.***
