Youth taekwondo flash mob brings energy to Tashkent ahead of Junior World Championships

Young athletes take part in a taekwondo flash mob at Olympic Village Square in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Friday, two days before the start of the Tashkent 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships. A total of 2,026 people took part in the event. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — Under the bright lights of Tashkent’s Olympic Village Square, lines of young taekwondo athletes moved in rhythm Friday evening, their collective calls echoing across the plaza. The flash mob — made up of 2,026 participants — captured the growing excitement ahead of the World Taekwondo Junior Championships.

The Uzbekistan National Olympic Committee and the Uzbekistan Taekwondo Association organized the event in the lead-up to the global competition, which opens in Tashkent, Sunday. It drew members of the World Taekwondo Performance Team and thousands of aspiring athletes from local clubs. The number of performers, 2,026, symbolized the championship year and reflected the idea that taekwondo is practiced by people of all ages and backgrounds.

Young athletes take part in a taekwondo flash mob at Olympic Village Square in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Friday, two days before the start of the Tashkent 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships. A total of 2,026 Uzbek participants took part in the event. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The young athletes filled the square in tightly ordered rows, their movements rising and falling in perfect time. Each kick, block and poomsae sequence unfolded with steady rhythm as instructors guided the formations from the sidelines, giving the plaza the feel of one unified motion. The World Taekwondo Performance Team then took the spotlight, delivering a series of controlled, high-level demonstrations that earned strong applause from spectators.

The World Taekwondo Performance Team shows off their moves at Olympic Village Square in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won watched from the crowd with organization officials and national team representatives, joined by Uzbek sports leaders including Sports Minister Adkham Ikramov, NOC First Deputy Chairman Otabek Umarov, NOC Secretary General Oybek Kasimov and Taekwondo Association President Sherzod Tashmatov.

World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won delivers remarks before a flash mob performance in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The flash mob followed a similar performance staged in 2019 during Tashkent’s World Taekwondo Cadet Championships, where 2,019 young athletes performed under the theme “Taekwondo for All.” Organizers described this year’s event as a continuation of that legacy, on an even broader scale.

Young athletes take part in a taekwondo flash mob at Olympic Village Square in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Choue praised Uzbekistan’s progress in developing the sport, saying the nation has “grown quickly” and built a strong taekwondo culture. He added that Tashkent now stands as “a proud center for youth and innovation” in the martial art.

The 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships will take place April 12–17 in Tashkent, bringing together a record 986 athletes from 115 countries, including the Refugee Team.

A young taekwondo athlete walks away after a flash mob performance at Olympic Village Square in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk