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Virtual taekwondo is on the rise as it makes its debut at Asian Games

  • Virtual taekwondo will debut at the Asian Games in Japan this year, marking the sport's transition from experimental discipline to structured competitive event across Southeast Asia.
  • Co-Developed by World Taekwondo and Refract Technologies, the sport uses VR headsets and motion-tracking sensors to let competitors control digital avatars through physically demanding noncontact martial arts techniques.
  • Malaysian coach Henry Lee scouts for players with 'game sense'—the ability to read movement and make split-second decisions inside the virtual arena where success depends on stamina and speed.
  • Unlike conventional sparring, the virtual format removes age, gender, and weight barriers, allowing athletes of all ages to 'compete safely' on equal footing, according to athlete Raja Mardiah Idris.
  • The sport is expected to be included in the 2027 Southeast Asian Games, while national programs and coaching certifications are now in place to support growing interest across the region.
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Virtual taekwondo is on the rise as it makes its debut at Asian Games

Virtual taekwondo is gaining popularity as a structured competitive discipline in Southeast Asia. Co-developed by World Taekwondo and Refract Technologies, the sport combines VR technology with traditional techniques to woo tech-savvy young players.

·New York, United States
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When Vietnamese athlete Nguyen Thanh Hien Linh entered her first virtual taekwondo competition in Singapore in 2024, she had little idea of what she was doing.

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Winnipeg Free Press broke the news in Winnipeg, Canada on Monday, July 6, 2026.
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