GOYANG, Korea (Nov. 14, 2023) –  Korea emerged as female champions today at the Seoul 2023 World Cup Team Championships Series, held in the western Seoul suburb of Goyang.

 

The gold-medal winning team left Goyang’s KINTEX 2 Exhibition Center with not just the coveted World Cup itself, but with $20,000 in prize money. 

 

They earned the title after a banger of a battle against Team Morocco, with a two rounds to zero win. The highly technical Korean players deployed high and spinning kicks to maximum effect against a lively Morocco squad, maintaining a steady lead. 

 

Morocco earned silver – and $10,000 in prize money.

 

Third place – and $5,000 - went to former World Cup Champion China, which defeated Mexico 2-0 in the bronze medal match.

 

In earlier semi-finals, Korea had taken out China, in a dramatic match won on superiority in the final round by a hair’s breadth. In the second semi, Morocco had beaten Mexico, 2-0.

 

And in the quarter finals: China had defeated Iran 2-0; Morocco defeated Cote d’Ivoire 2-0; and Mexico defeated Brazil in a down-to-the-last-second 2-1 bout. 

 

In a seven-team field, Korea had a by, so advanced directly into its semi against China.

 

The bang ‘n crash, spin ‘n kick, team championships are Taekwondo’s most dynamic combative format.

 

Female teams comprise three athletes weighing no more than 200kg in total. Fighting is separated into three rounds, with victories in two rounds deciding the winner, or superiority deciding the matter if points are even after the final round.

 

At this year’s World Cup, female, male and mixed-gender teams are competing over three days. Australia, Brazil, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Iran, Korea, Mexico and Morocco are fielding teams.

 

Male teams go into action tomorrow, leaving the mixed gender teams to do battle on the championship’s third and final day, Wednesday.