Sports Minister Erick Thohir receives honorary taekwondo belt at championship opening

Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, was honored with a dobok and an honorary taekwondo belt during the opening ceremony of the 8th Asian Taekwondo Indonesia Open Championships 2026 in Jakarta. The prestigious award was presented by Richard Tampubolon, Chairman of the Indonesian Taekwondo Association (PBTI), symbolizing Thohir's integration into the Indonesian taekwondo community.

In addition to the honorary belt, Minister Thohir received a DAN Kukkiwon certificate from Kim Sang-jin, President of the Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU). Alongside other dignitaries, Thohir symbolically inaugurated the World Taekwondo (WT) G2-status championship by pressing a countdown button. The event is part of the commemoration of the 81st anniversary of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), organized through a collaboration between the TNI and PBTI.

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The conferment of the dobok and honorary belt signifies the inclusion of Minister Erick as a member of the extended Indonesian taekwondo family.

Indonesia secured the hosting rights for this significant championship after a competitive bidding process in South Korea in 2025, outbidding Malaysia, India, and other nations. The trust placed in Indonesia by the ATU is viewed as a responsibility to be fulfilled with dedication. Hosting this event underscores Indonesia's conducive national security situation to the international community and reinforces its position as a global sport tourism destination.

The championship is one of the largest taekwondo events in Indonesian history, attracting 531 athletes from 36 countries. It runs from August 1 to 5, 2026. This marks a historic return for Indonesia to hosting international taekwondo competitions after nearly two decades. The successful organization is attributed to the support of PBTI, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI), and the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI).

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Today marks an important milestone in the development of taekwondo in Indonesia, while also demonstrating to the world that Indonesia is ready to host quality international sports events.