Asian Games goes digital: Virtual taekwondo added for 2026
Mixed-gender, digital format removes traditional martial arts barriers
A taekwondo athlete competes during the inaugural Virtual Taekwondo Rome Open 2026 at the Foro Italico in Rome, June 5. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Virtual taekwondo is officially heading to the Asian Games, marking a major milestone for the digital discipline just days after a high-profile showcase in Italy.
World Taekwondo announced Monday that virtual taekwondo has been added to the official program for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. The inclusion was ratified by the Asian Games Organizing Committee Board and approved by the Olympic Council of Asia.
The Asian Games competition is scheduled for Oct. 2 at the Toyohashi City General Gymnasium in Japan. It will feature a 16-player, single-elimination bracket open to male and female athletes between the ages of 17 and 35. Unlike traditional taekwondo, the technology-driven format is designed to remove traditional barriers such as weight class, age and gender. By focusing on technique and speed rather than raw physical force, it creates a structure that allows diverse athletes to compete on even terms.
Two taekwondo athletes compete against each other during the inaugural Virtual Taekwondo Rome Open at the Foro Italico in Rome, June 5. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Competitors face off in a 4-by-4-meter physical space wearing VR headsets and five motion sensors on their upper bodies, knees and lower legs. Real-time motion-tracking technology translates their physical strikes into a virtual arena, replicating sparring in a completely noncontact environment. Bouts run for 60 seconds, with competitors trying to deplete an opponent's health bar or hold a higher score at the final horn. Matches are decided in a best-of-three format.
World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won emphasized that the new discipline is designed to be inclusive, creating opportunities for people of all ages and genders to excel in the sport.
A taekwondo athlete waits to play during the inaugural Virtual Taekwondo Rome Open 2026 at the Foro Italico in Rome, June 5. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Today's announcement follows the inaugural Virtual Taekwondo Rome Open on June 5 at Italy's Foro Italico, where Team Canada's Cassius Doroja won the 19-athlete tournament.
The Rome showcase highlighted the sport's rapid expansion since its debut at the 2023 Olympic Esports Series in Singapore, which was followed by the 2024 World Championships featuring more than 120 athletes from 23 countries.